Shavees at the 2024 Norwich St. Baldrick's annual fundraiser at the Canasawacta Country Club in Norwich. The event included nine teams and a total of 40 shavees, and broke their fundraising record with $60,264.59 in donations. (Photos by Dustin Genter of 5th Dimension Photography)

NORWICH — The Norwich St. Baldrick's annual fundraiser has broken it's record by more than $5,000 with a 2024 fundraising total of $60,264.59.

"Before they turn 20, about one in every 263 children in the US will have cancer. In the US, childhood cancer is the number one disease killer of children. Worldwide, a child is diagnosed with cancer every two minutes," said Co-Organizer Marissa Phelps.

"On top of that, many of the children that go through treatments for cancer experience a lot of side effects from the treatments that are just not appropriate for their tiny bodies. So we need to do better. We need to change those statistics, and that’s why we’re here today."

This year's event was held on Saturday, March 16, at the Canasawacta Country Club in Norwich, and included nine teams and 40 shavees, as well as several fundraising and event volunteers.

Master of ceremonies Brian Burton returned, and the event was supported by Barbers Sarah Curtis and Jessica Homer from Sarah's Hair Studio in West Burlington, volunteer photographer Dustin Genter of 5th Dimension Photography, as well as the Canasawacta Country Club, who donated the use of the venue.

In addition to the traditional head shaving of this year's participants, the 2024 St. Baldrick's fundraiser also honored two local children: Will "Willy" Linscott and Walker Robinson.