Students Raise Money for Leukemia Research, Jesuit Shaves Beard

posted on March 5, 2014 

This week Brad Held, SJ, a high school spirituality teacher at Red Cloud, had flames shaved into his beard by local artist and hairstylist Alvin Mills of Native Stylz in Pine Ridge.

Why the unusual cut? As the junior class sponsor for this year’s Pennies for Patients fundraiser, Brad offered up his face as the prize, but only if his students outraised all of Red Cloud’s other classes.  

This year, he promised he would get the same cut if his students put in enough effort to raise money in the fight against leukemia.

The Inspiration After Brad's Trim

“The ideas started when, two years ago, a student brought me a photo of a man who, they believed, resembled me, and who had unusual facial hair,” says Brad. “That has since hung outside my classroom door and provided my students with some good laughs.”

This year, Red Cloud High School raised more than $300 dollars to add to the $1100 raised by sister school Our Lady of Lourdes.  “I am really proud of what we've accomplished,” says Sr. Susan, who coordinates the event each year. Students raise money by organizing bake sales and raffles and by running concession stands at school games. “Hopefully, one day we will find a cure for cancer.”

According to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s website, since 1994 more than 10 million elementary, middle and high school students across the country have raised millions through Pennies for Patients.

Learn More about Red Cloud's Student Acitivities Programs

 

All Content, ©Red Cloud Indian School, 2014