NDA’s Sting Cancer Club hosts its No-Shave March event again, where gentlemen who buy a pin can grow a beard and help put together Cancer Care Baskets for those impacted by cancer.

“No-Shave March is a Sting Cancer fundraiser. Students who pay $20 receive a Cancer Awareness pin and can go the month of March without shaving. All the money goes towards making Cancer Care Baskets for people in our community,” said Main Office Coordinator Joey Rickards.

This year ten guys signed up to participate. This is down significantly from last year where twenty guys signed up. At the end of the month, the guy with the best beard wins.

Signed up to legally break the school must-shave rule are Alex Boye, Riley Hess, Diego Juarez, Fernando Martinez, Tate Milton, Jack Piette, Esteban Rubio, Joseph Schmidt, James Shade and Matthew Stein.

Sting Cancer hopes to make between $200 and $500, and one hundred percent of the money raised goes to buying supplies for the Cancer Care Baskets.

“Each basket includes a fleece tie blanket, gift card, chapstick, a stress item made by former student Jenny Ai, a coloring book or journal depending on the age of the patient, tissue pack, cough drops or hard candies and messages of encouragement,” said Rickards.

If a student or employee personally knows someone battling cancer, a Cancer Care Basket will be provided by contacting a Sting Cancer member.

This event took over for St. Baldrick’s Day, which is a foundation that supports research for finding a cure for childhood cancer. By switching to the No Shave March fundraiser, NDA is able to keep one hundred percent of the money collected.

NDA’s Sting Cancer club is important to Rickards, as both she and her mother were diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer. At the time, her children were in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade at St. Matthew’s School.

“The love and care that our school and church family gave was something we never could have imagined. The worst days of treatment were always made better knowing I had a huge support group I could call on to help with our kids, a meal, or just a phone call. I never felt alone in my fight, and I want to make sure others feel that way too,” said Rickards.