Buzz-ing for cancer

Ahwatukee Foothills oncology nurse Annie Gieseking has a new haircut - the buzz cut.

"I'm loving it," she said.

"It's so easy to take care of. It takes two minutes to shower and I don't have to use gels or style it. It's kind of liberating."

No, Gieseking didn't buzz her hair for attention. Twelve-year-old Leslie Rodriguez, one of her cancer patients, made the first cut on March 14 when she joined five others at Phoenix Children's Hospital to shave their heads to help raise money for childhood cancer research.

"One little boy that was there, he is the sweetest child, he was my first patient in the morning and the first thing he did was reach up and touch my head," Gieseking said. "Hair - it grows back in. It's absolutely nothing compared to what these kids go through."

The "shave-off" kicked off the St. Baldrick's Foundation fundraising event held at Desert Ridge Marketplace March 15, where about 80 additional volunteers said goodbye to their hair.

All together, the event raised about $50,000. Gieseking raised nearly $3,000 on her own and admits she has been interested in the organization for some time.

"My family is very Irish and, years ago, when I first saw (the event) I was curious," Gieseking said. "When I heard they were having it here someone suggested I be the representative."

Gieseking has worked for Phoenix Children's Hospital for 24 years, and said she was never opposed to shaving her head for cancer research.

She and the five other individuals that participated received a touch-up shave from master barber Lev Zavuroz. In 2000, Zavuroz was named "Best Barber" by NY Magazine. Some of his clients include Mike Wallace and Mike Piazza. 

The St. Baldrick's Foundation is the world's largest fundraising event for childhood cancer. It tries to raise awareness and funds to cure children's cancer by supporting cancer research and fellowships. St. Baldrick's has raised more than $34 million, and shaved over 46,000 heads in 18 countries and 46 U.S. states.