David Tropia plans to invest in some new winter hats this week.
He’ll need them after Thursday, when Tropia and four other members of the Derby Fire Department’s Hotchkiss Hose Co. shave their heads together to raise money for cancer research.
“The firefighters in Derby, these guys are volunteers,” Tropia said. “They risk their lives to protect their neighbors’ lives and their neighbors’ property. Just that is not enough. They go out in the community and organize events like this.”
The five men, along with a sixth person from Bridgeport, will host a St. Baldrick’s shave for cancer at Archie Moore’s at 7 p.m. Thursday.
St. Baldrick’s
Every year hundreds of events are hosted around the country and the world to benefit the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, which helps fund research for childhood cancers.
In 2010, St. Baldrick’s held the most events in its history: volunteers hosted 805 events and shaved 38,278 heads – more than 3,900 of them women, according to fact sheets on the group’s website.
Those volunteers helped raise more than $22 million last year.
Derby’s Event
Tropia said members of the Hotchkiss Hose Co. decided to host their own shave this month, after another member of their department — Michael Gloade — participated in one last year in Greenwich.
Gloade will still participate in the event in Greenwich, Tropia said, but serves as the Hotchkiss Hose shave treasurer.
“We will shave our heads to stand in solidarity with these brave kids fighting cancer,” Tropia said.
The other Derby participants in Thursday’s shave are Fire Commissioner Kelly Curtis, and firefighters Ken Silvia, Ed Stanis and Chris Trovarelli.
A sixth person, Mathew Cuminotto III of Bridgeport, also signed up to have his head shaved at the event, Tropia said.
The hair cutting will begin at 7:30 p.m. One person will get their head shaved at a time, Tropia said.
So far the team has raised just over $2,000. Their goal is to top $3,000.
To make a donation before the event, click here to visit the team’s website. Donations will also be accepted at the event.
Archie Moore’s is on Elizabeth Street in Derby.
