Posted by chicagomedia.org on March 16, 2009 at 07:26:56:
WFLD-Ch. 32 anchor Patrick Elwood shaves his head for charity
--William Hageman | Chicago Tribune
March 16, 2009
Big weekend for WFLD-Ch. 32 anchor Patrick Elwood.
He was honored Sunday at the South Side Irish parade. Got to march and everything. And, of course, there was the head shaving.
Elwood is a longtime booster of St. Baldrick's Day, when volunteers shave their heads to show solidarity with children with cancer. They take pledges, and money is raised for charity. His work on St. Baldrick's behalf earned him float-rider status at the parade.
"My head is going to be so sunburned," he said Sunday evening. "I forgot to use my sunblock."
Elwood got involved when covering a story about five years ago. He wasn't familiar with St. Baldrick's and found out, big time, when he visited a family whose daughter was sick.
"When I get out there, there's this little girl, Jordan, 5 years old, with leukemia. It was the second time in her five years she had it. And her mom was shaving her head that year [for St. Baldrick's]."
While he was there, Jordan asked him if he was going to shave his head.
"It was one of those moments of clarity. I am so with you."
Friday morning, as he has for the last few years, Elwood did his part by again shaving his head.
He did it on the air, from his alma mater, Brother Rice High School. Then he hit the road to visit some of the nearly 90 schools participating in this year's Fox Chicago Schools Challenge, which gets students involved in the St. Baldrick's Day experience.
"Three years ago I said, 'Let's figure a way to keep it fresh.' My wife [Katie] and I decided to take it to the schools. It's kids helping kids."
Bad economy and all, Elwood is hoping to raise upward of $750,000 this year via the Challenge, which will continue till the end of the month. Go to foxjox.com for more information.