Clippers buzzed over 277 heads from the Reno-Sparks community Tuesday to help raise money for cancer research in the annual St. Baldrick’s event. St. Baldrick's is the world's largest volunteer-driven fundraising event for childhood cancer research, an effort in which volunteers give up their hair to raise money and to show solidarity with patients who lose theirs while undergoing chemotherapy.

Among the participants were Sparks firefighters and Buckbean Brewery owners Dan Kahn and Doug Booth.

“We had a pre-shave last night where nine firefighters shaved their heads,” Sparks Fire Department Chief Bill Finley said. “We’ll have 15 men and one woman participate tonight.”

The fire department has participated in events to raise funds for cancer research, including the annual Christmas party put on by the hematology/ontology center at Renown Regional Medical Center.

“It’s important for us to support the kids and show them that they’re not alone and there are people in the community who support them,” Capt. Shawn McEvers said. “We try to give the kids more hope.”

This is the first year that the fire department is participating in the event, which has been held in Northern Nevada for the past four years.

This year’s event, which is hosted by Keaton Raphael Memorial, raised a total of $75,024. The funds will go to research as well as local families who are unable to pay for their children’s treatments.

“There is currently no pediatric oncology center in northern Nevada, which means that people locally have to travel to get treatment,” said Keaton Raphael Memorial board of directors member Meagan Noin. “This event will help fund a part-time oncologist to come to Reno to administer treatments a few times a week.”

Noin is part of the Buckbean head-shaving team, which is made up of eight members, including the two owners.

“I personally was very excited about it because I saw a good friend of mine from high school shave his head last year and he’s had long hair since high school,” owner Doug Booth said. “Knowing that there’s no oncology center in the area makes it important to raise money for the kids.”

The Buckbean team has raised around $1,500. Booth and Kahn also gave out free pint cards to the shavees who participated in the event.

“It’s our way of thanking them for doing this,” Booth said.

The funds raised by the Buckbean team and others will benefit local families like the Hewitts from Reno. Katya Hewitt's son, Ethan, was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 2 and underwent three years of treatment.

"He's six years old now and he and his dad will have their heads shaved," Katya said.

Ethan raised more than $1,000 prior to the event.

"There were a lot of bake sales and calls to family and friends," Katya said.

Ethan will benefit from the money raised during this year's event since he receives treatments from the doctors commissioned by Keaton Raphael Memorial to come to Reno to treat children.

“I think everyone has been affected by cancer in one way or another,” McEvers said. “So, any awareness or funds that can be raised to increase the amount of research is well worth the time.”

McEvers added that “the kids are the real heroes.”

People can donate to St. Baldrick’s even after the annual event by visiting www.stbaldricks.org.