The original version of this article contained multiple errors and has been changed. See the bottom of the article for more information.
Individuals wearing bald caps and signing posters will fill part of Bruin Plaza on Friday to raise money for the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.
The center and the UCLA Fights Cancer team will hold an event at 12:30 p.m. called Be Bold, Be Bald! Registered attendees will be given bald caps to wear and UCLA students can join in to make posters for people they know who are fighting cancer or who had cancer in the past.
“We want to make make a big, bold statement to show support for those fighting cancer,” said Nora Bok, the special events manager for the Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation.
Be Bold, Be Bald! began in 2009 to support cancer survivors and individuals who currently have cancer by raising money for various cancer organizations. According to the national campaign’s website, dozens of local and national cancer organizations benefit from the donations garnered. Since its founding, Be Bold, Be Bald! has raised more than $871,000.
This is the fourth year UCLA will participate in the Be Bold, Be Bald! campaign, Bok said. In the past three years, UCLA has raised more than $11,000 for the center, she said.
Donations can be made on the Be Bold, Be Bald! website, Bok said. Donors can select the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center as the beneficiary if they want to donate to it specifically.
“We’re hoping to raise awareness and show support to those fighting cancer … to find new and better ways to treat and fight disease,” Bok said.
Bok said the money will support the most pressing needs of the Jonsson Cancer Center, such as funding for drugs nearing FDA approval or getting research done in the lab to a place where it can help cancer patients faster.
There is no deadline to register for the event, but only students who registered by Thursday night will be guaranteed bald caps, Bok said. A few extra caps will be provided at the site.
Compiled by Julia Raven, Bruin senior staff.
Clarification: The money will support the needs of the Jonsson Cancer Center and will help expedite the application of research to help cancer patients.