Young And Old Going Bald In Kings Park To Fight Childhood Cancer

US Funding Only Covers 4% of Children’s Cancer Research

Kings Park Kids Trying to Change That

By Maureen Rossi

After Richard Mangogna: Age 11Richard Mangogna: Age 11 - BeforeLast Sunday The Park Lounge in Kings Park was bustling with hundreds of men, women and children ready to celebrate and participate in their annual St. Baldrick’s event.  Collectively they raised approximately one hundred thousand dollars.  That’s an incredibly impressive number considering it’s only the 6th year that the 25A pub has hosted the event.   Every year more and more people flock to the popular eatery owned by Kings Park native, former professional hockey player Jim Pavese.  Local hair dressers volunteer their services to shave head after head.

Equally impressive as the amount raised is the amount of young boys who showed up this year to partake in the event.  Being a tween or teen in a 24/7 technological world means all eyes are on them all the time.  It’s hardly a time in life that most kids try to stand out or be different.   That didn’t stop Kings Park kids Max, Daniel, Joey or Conner.   All the boys had their heads shaved for the St. Baldrick’s’ festivities s on Sunday.    

The genesis of St. Baldricks was in a New York City bar in 2000.  Not named after an Irish saint or any saint for that matter St. Baldrick’s is a play on words; a combination of Bald and St. Patrick’s.  The name and concept of raising money to fund cancer research for childhood cancers began with three friends over a dare at Jim Brady’s Bar and Restaurant.  In just fourteen short years, well over one hundred million dollars has been raised and those funds have been distributed to over 230 institutions in the Children’s Oncology Group.  The money funds research and treatment for children with cancer. 

Sixth grader Max Tanzi was on hand Sunday where he shaved his head for the sixth year in a row.  “At first I started doing it because my Dad did it,” he explained.  However, the somewhat shy tween says he likes the thought of helping kids.  The oldest of the young Tanzi brood, he says his favorite subject in school is lunch.  His younger brother and two younger sisters laughed when he shared that information in the busy hallway of Kings Park high school Tuesday night. His mother had he and his siblings at the Kings Park Board of Education meeting to watch his sister receive a special award.  He says he loves to play lacrosse and enjoys playing the guitar.   His tone then got more serious.  “My grandfather passed away about a year and half ago,” he shared.  His mom Kathy’s Dad  was a big part of Max’s and his siblings’ lives.  He was a beloved grandfather.  Max said he shaves his head now in memory of his grandfather.    Max hopes to be a cop someday, preferably a canine cop.  

Max’s brother Daniel is a 5^th grader and shared a comical side in between his short interview.  He says he loves baseball and has been shaving his head for St. Baldrick’s for four years.   “I felt happy to do it so that kids can get better,” he said.   Along with the rest of Long Island, Daniel awoke to frigid temperatures on Monday morning less than one day after shaving his small head.  “I have been wearing a hat, it’s been real cold,” he reported.  He says he hasn’t really decided yet what he wants to be when he grows up.  Daniel’s Dad, Tony Tanzi, is one of the people who helps to organize the annual Kings Park event.  Tony is an active member of the Kings Park and Smithtown community at large.  He’s the President of the KP Chamber and a member of the Historical Society and sits on the Zoning Board.  He said he is very proud of his sons for participating and caring about kids with cancer.

Joey Saccente and his best friend Conner Maher were amongst the throngs of people and children shaving their heads at Sunday’s festive event.   Joey is 11 but shared that he will be 12 on April 11^th.  “I did it last year too, but I didn’t really have much of a reason last year as I did this year,” he said.   Last year he and his dad were just driving past The Park Lounge the day of the event and they decided to do it spontaneously.  He said they just wanted to help.  

“This year I had a reason, my aunt back in November or October, she was diagnosed with cancer and also in 2011 my mom’s best friend died,” he explained.  He said he did it this year in honor of them but also wanted to help kids.  “I know it’s really difficult for kids with cancer; it’s very difficult for their families too knowing they will be sick for a while,” he suspected.   The William T. Rogers student has an older sister Dannie and he likes to play basketball and soccer and also enjoys running.  Joey says he lives on a block with lots of kids so says he said it’s a ton of fun to go outside with his friends and play all kinds of games or go to the park.  The chatty seventh grader said no one made fun of him at school.  Like Max and Daniel, he said lots of kids in their school did it this year.  “I really hope someone - anybody finds a cure then there will a lot less pain in the world,” he lamented.  Joey said he would love to play soccer professionally but shared a more realistic goal would be a fireman.  “My dad is a fireman I’d like to be a fireman too like him,” he ended.  He was proud of the fact that he raised $1,055 for the Foundation this year.  

Connor is Joey’s best friend and classmate.   “I was kind of nervous – since I knew it was for a good cause I felt good about,” he explained.  Also twelve like his best friend, he has two sisters, one older and one younger.  Conner raised an impressive $2,400 and says he likes to play basketball and baseball and also run track.   He said because of the cold weather he’s been sporting a St. Baldrick’s Day hat that he got at The Park Lounge.  “I like computers so when I grow up I want to be someone who builds computers and makes a lot of money so I can donate a lot of money to charity,” he shared.   Conner said when a really good family friend was diagnosed with cancer it inspired him to participate.  “It feels really good to do it you are helping a lot of people,” he ended.   You can still donate to the Park Lounge event.  Call 269-1351.

In totality; all types of childhood cancers only receive four percent of the cancer research funding in the United States.   The St. Baldrick’s Foundation and Max, Daniel, Joey and Conner are trying to change that number.   The brave young boys all said they hope to see a cure for childhood cancer.