Gallagher Re Team Raises Funds for St. Baldrick’s Foundation to Conquer Kids’ Cancer

How Big Is the Problem?

Worldwide, 400,000 children are diagnosed with cancer each year. And in the U.S., more children die of childhood cancer than any other disease — more than AIDS, asthma, cystic fibrosis, congenital anomalies and diabetes combined. Childhood cancer isn’t just one disease — there are over a dozen types of childhood cancer and countless subtypes, each requiring specific research to develop the best treatment for every child. The National Cancer Institute has nearly doubled its investment in childhood cancer research in recent years due to greater advocacy and awareness, but more research funding is needed to develop new, safe therapies for kids with cancer.

Funding the Research to Find a Cure

The St. Baldrick’s Foundation exists to change these realities. By working closely with leading pediatric oncologists, they determine the most promising research to fund and create funding priorities to make the greatest impact for children with cancer. The efforts began in the insurance industry in 1999 when Tim Kenny issues a challenge to colleagues John Bender and Enda McDonnell: How will you give back in return for your own good fortune in business? McDonnell’s thick head of hair gives Bender the big idea — shave their heads for donations to raise funds for kids with cancer. In 2000, the annual reinsurance industry’s St. Patrick’s Day party, held at Jim Brady’s pub in Manhattan, becomes the first St. Baldrick’s event. The goal of shaving 17 heads and raising $17,000 turns into 19 bald heads and $104,000 donated to fund the research of the Children’s Oncology Group. Two years later, the annual event raised over $1,000,000 and led to the founders making the leap in 2004, creating the St. Baldrick’s Foundation to maximize this volunteer–driven effort. The priorities: spending as little as possible to raise each dollar, and making sure every donation goes to the best research to find cures for kids fighting cancer.

The results have been staggering. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is the largest charity funder of childhood cancer research grants in the U.S., distributing $369 million in research grant funding since 2005.

My Story

I was first introduced to St Baldrick’s in 2005 as a reinsurance analyst at Benfield in Minneapolis. With a full head of hair and limited fund raising ability, I was happy to participate as a shavee, but with limited monetary impact. 2006 was a similar story and result.

Following a move to Collins Intermediaries and a move to Tampa, Florida, I next participated in 2009, but for much more personal reasons. Earlier that year, a colleague received the tragic news that his young son had been diagnosed with cancer. Our office banded together to host an event at Hattricks Tavern as part of Team Evan, raising over $84,000 and had a great time raising awareness in the process.

Since 2009, I have continued to follow the annual St Baldrick’s activities, donating to dozens of participants and spreading the word where possible. But another personal twist brought me back under the clippers in 2026. My brother, Eric, joined the St Baldrick’s board of directors in late 2025 and I immediately committed to rejoining the ranks as a shavee in 2026. With another board member, Andrew Edelsberg, as a colleague at Gallagher Re, I was able to join a team and fundraised very easily. Our efforts were very successful, as the Gallagher Re team was able to raise well over $60,000 and participated in events in multiple states. I had the joy of letting my three kids do the shaving honors, hopefully instilling valuable lessons about the role we have to those in need, and raising money for valuable causes.