When one of its students was diagnosed with cancer over two years ago, the Queen of Martyrs School community responded. Even after the preschooler’s leukemia went into remission, the Evergreen Park school continued to support all those impacted by childhood cancer.

The Family School Association of Queen of Martyrs held a St. Baldrick’s event March 10 in the school gym. Twenty-eight people, including the pastor, Father Benedykt Pazdan, agreed to have their heads shaved for money pledged to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, which raises funds for childhood cancer research.

“This is a way to bring awareness to the students of this wonderful organization,” the pastor said. “Childhood cancer also affected one of our students, so it hits home.”

As of the date of the event, the school had unofficially raised $12,500, surpassing its goal of $10,000, with more funds expected. St. Baldrick’s Foundation volunteers have made possible more than $326 million in research grant funding since 2005.

Pazdan, who prayed for doctors and cancer researchers at the Queen of Martyrs event, added, “Jesus said that whatever you do for the least of my brothers, you do for me, so this is putting faith into action.”

“This is something that shows our school’s spirit of giving and compassion,” said Principal Julie O’Connor. “And this is a great foundation to support.”

Queen of Martyrs has a preschooler, Crispin Bofinger, 4, who for more than two years battled leukemia.

The Bofinger family not only attended the event, but members raised funds and agreed to get their locks clipped.

Erin Bofinger, Crispin’s mother, recalled when her son was diagnosed with leukemia on Aug. 16, 2020. He fought the disease for two years and three months.

“It was devastating. I felt helpless,” the mother recalled. “This was not something I ever thought I’d have to deal with. But the amount of support we received from Queen of Martyrs and the community was just overwhelming.”

While Crispin was being treated at Advocate Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn, school parents and others helped with financial donations, Masses and prayers, making meals, and offering to pick up their other children from school.

Crispin, who just had his port removed, attended the March 10 event and said, “I feel good today”

His mother said the boy has been “very brave” through treatments. She called the St. Baldrick’s event “amazing … so hopefully other kids don’t have to go through this.”

According to several sources, including the World Health Organization, 47 children are diagnosed with cancer each day in the United States, with more than 17,000 U.S. children diagnosed annually. Childhood cancer is a leading cause of death in U.S. children, resulting in approximately 1,800 deaths each year.

Troy Bofinger, Crispin’s father, noted, “It’s been a very, very long journey. After 2½ years, there’s been more than a little stress. How do you quantify what your child is going through?”

The father added that his family feels “very blessed and fortunate” with all the support they have received.

Now, after a year and a half of letting his hair grow, Troy Bofinger was ready for his clipping. His daughter, Emma, 9, was the lone girl to risk her hair, and son, Thijs, 12, was also sheared.

Emma, who raised $777, said, “I want to help and support everyone who has childhood cancer.” As for raising funds, “I just asked family and friends to make a donation,” the third grader explained.

After his haircut, Thijs said, “I feel pretty good. During his treatment, I did not see my brother or my mom for a long time.”

With St. Patrick’s Day approaching, the school’s event opened with bagpipe music and Irish dancers. Michelle Mohr, who teaches middle school math, said students learned in religion classes about helping the community and impacting society.

“This is a good experience for them,” Mohr said. “Students are excited about what [St. Baldrick’s] means and how it benefits others.”

Pazdan also addressed students on the issue, and “he made sure they knew he was invested,” Mohr said.

Preschooler Jack Evans, 5, raised $1,751. His family posted a video about the project on social media in which he told his mother, “I wish I could give my health to sick kids.”

Seventh grader Noah Lunsford, 13, said, “I just want to help people to make them feel better and feel as though they fit in and are not mistreated.”

Caleb Lascola, 9, a third grader, had his own cheering section. “I wanted to get my head shaved,” he said, “and I knew it would help people with cancer.”

As to his new look, Caleb admitted, “It feels different.”

School mother Brigid Hansen watched as her sons Ian, Finnegan, and Logan all got clipped.

“They wanted to do this,” she said, “and I’m proud of them.”