[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/head_shaving.jpg” caption=”John Popham gets his head shaved by McMaster University president Peter George and MSU president Ryan Moran. Photo courtesy of William Chan.”]Fifteen brave students stepped onto centre field during halftime of last Saturday's Marauders playoff game against the Guelph Gryphons to get their heads shaved to raise money for pediatric cancer research.

This annual event, co-ordinated by students from the MSU club Smiling Over Sickness, raises about $20,000 annually for the pediatric division of the Canadian Cancer Society.

Several dignitaries came out in support of the Marauders football team and Canadian Cancer Society, including McMaster University President Peter George and MSU president Ryan Moran, both of whom had the honour of shaving the head of former MSU president John Popham.

Dr. Joe Kim, representing the Department of Psychology, supported the cause by shaving the heads of one of his own TAs. As always, the event proved to be fun-filled, emotional and exciting in front of a stadium packed with football fans.

Thanks to the generosity of McMaster students, Marauders fans and the University's faculty, the club is close to achieving its charitable goals.

The mandate of this non-profit, student-run organization is to contribute positively to the lives of sick children, a goal achieved through community volunteerism, awareness and fundraising.

To date, its members have reached out to children at McMaster Children's Hospital, families at the local Ronald McDonald House and various service communities throughout the Hamilton-Wentworth region.

The Smiling Over Sickness executives would like to thank all those who helped with the event, including the Maroons and the Society of Off-Campus Students.

The club will continue to host other fundraising initiatives throughout the year, including its annual Shave for a Cure Pub Night event on Nov. 8 at Quarters. In addition, Locks for Love, an event where volunteers donate 10 inches of hair, will take place on Jan. 28 in the MUSC atrium.

For more information about the event or the club itself, please contact the club at sos@mcmaster.ca.