Twenty Wilton teenagers made a hair-raising contribution in the fight against childhood cancer on Saturday afternoon, Mar. 15, shaving their heads to raise nearly $5,000 to benefit Circle of Care, the Wilton-based organization that supports families of children diagnosed with cancer.
Wilton High School sophomores Dylan Flanagan and Will Viggiano were the organizers of the event held at Circle of Care’s headquarters. Driven by personal experiences with cancer, the two friends wanted to do something that very visibly showed their support.
“Last year, my grandfather passed away from cancer, and he was suffering from it for a while. I wanted to do something to show my support,” Viggiano said.
In the past, WHS students have held a similar buzz-cut-a-thon to benefit the pediatric cancer organization St. Baldrick’s Foundation. But since the retirement last year of the St. Baldrick’s club’s longtime advisor, WHS counselor Dann Pompa, there hasn’t been anyone to shepherd the effort at the school.
Flanagan and Viggiano had both wanted to participate this year, and as the usual annual date drew near, they decided to take matters into their own hands.
“I just realized that something has to happen, so I talked to family friends who live in Wilton, who had a kid with cancer, and they told me about Circle of Care,” Flanagan said.
He reached out to Circle of Care Founder and Co-Executive Director Liz Salguero and quickly pulled the effort together. Despite the short time frame, even Flanagan was surprised at how successful the effort was. The event quickly grew from a small initiative to one that attracted nearly 20 teenage participants — far more than the original seven they had anticipated.
WHS students shaved their heads to raise money for Circle of Care, the Wilton-based organization that supports families of children with cancer Credit: GOOD Morning Wilton 
WHS students shaved their heads to raise money for Circle of Care, the Wilton-based organization that supports families of children with cancer. Dylan Flanagan (left) and Will Viggiano were the organizers. Credit: GOOD Morning Wilton 
WHS students Dylan Flanagan (left) and Will Viggiano prepare to get their heads shaved at an event to raise money for Circle of Care, the Wilton-based organization that supports families of children with cancer. Flanagan and Viggiano were the event organizers. Holding the shears is Wilton Public Schools Superintendent Kevin Smith (who handed the shears back to the stylist to actually do the cutting). Credit: GOOD Morning Wilton 
WHS students Dylan Flanagan (left) and Will Viggiano getting their heads shaved at an event to raise money for Circle of Care, the Wilton-based organization that supports families of children with cancer. Flanagan and Viggiano were the event organizers. Credit: GOOD Morning Wilton 
WHS students Dylan Flanagan (left) and Will Viggiano after getting their heads shaved at an event to raise money for Circle of Care, the Wilton-based organization that supports families of children with cancer. Flanagan and Viggiano were the event organizers and rang the ceremonial bell when the event surpassed the fundraising goal of $4,000. Credit: GOOD Morning Wilton 
WHS students Dylan Flanagan (right) and Will Viggiano (left) organized a head shaving event to raise money for Circle of Care, the Wilton-based organization that supports families of children with cancer. Circle of Care founder and executive director Liz Salguero is center. Credit: GOOD Morning Wilton 
WHS students shaved their heads to raise money for Circle of Care, the Wilton-based organization that supports families of children with cancer Credit: GOOD Morning Wilton 
WHS students shaved their heads to raise money for Circle of Care, the Wilton-based organization that supports families of children with cancer Credit: GOOD Morning Wilton 
WHS students shaved their heads to raise money for Circle of Care, the Wilton-based organization that supports families of children with cancer Credit: GOOD Morning Wilton 
WHS students shaved their heads to raise money for Circle of Care, the Wilton-based organization that supports families of children with cancer Credit: GOOD Morning Wilton 
WHS students shaved their heads to raise money for Circle of Care, the Wilton-based organization that supports families of children with cancer Credit: GOOD Morning Wilton 
WHS students shaved their heads to raise money for Circle of Care, the Wilton-based organization that supports families of children with cancer 
WHS students shaved their heads to raise money for Circle of Care, the Wilton-based organization that supports families of children with cancer. Here, Circle of Care founder and executive director Liz Salguero explains what the organization does and how it impacts the families it serves. Credit: GOOD Morning Wilton 
WHS students shaved their heads to raise money for Circle of Care, the Wilton-based organization that supports families of children with cancer. Before the event the participants watched a video about what the organization does and how it impacts the families it serves. Credit: GOOD Morning Wilton 
WHS students shaved their heads to raise money for Circle of Care, the Wilton-based organization that supports families of children with cancer. They surpassed their original $4,000 goal during the event. Credit: GOOD Morning Wilton
“I just figured that it would be a couple of kids show up and we could get some money. But it turned into a pretty good amount of money, and a lot of kids,” Flanagan said.
Salguero not only was thrilled with the money raised but also by what the participants learned from the experience.
“It’s a sacrifice for a short period of time to make a long period of difference. They really are making a lasting impact,” Salguero said. “They’re showing their peers, ‘We stand up for something,’ and that’s a really big thing these days, for kids to stand up for something and have fun at the same time. That’s why it’s called fun-draising. There is fun in helping others. It’s a good feeling.”
Before the shaving started, Salguero shared an emotional video that helped participants understand the impact of childhood cancer. It also became a turning point for some of the students in the group who were undecided about shaving for the cause.
“I think it allowed people to relate, even if they haven’t gone through something like that. Before stuff happened with my grandfather, I could never relate to what was happening, I couldn’t understand,” Viggiano said. “So I think this video allowed people to relate to it and actually feel something, and I think that’s why we’re getting some kids to do it last minute.”
Salguero was moved when she saw how the messaging in the video clicked for the teens.
“It’s elevating them. It’s making the world a little bit bigger for them, and hopefully it’s helping to raise empathy, so that they understand that not everybody is as lucky as they are, and they pay it forward. And that’s really what Circle of Care started as — how can we make this easier for the next round of people?” she said. “For them to get one iota of that feeling, that they have a responsibility to help those that can’t help themselves at any moment in time is really, really important.”
The boys got a little taste of just what they can accomplish when, mid-event, their GoFundMe page surpassed their $4,000 fundraising goal, a moment that elicited cheers and a celebratory bell ringing. With the GoFundMe page still live and continuing to take donations, they have raised their original goal from $4,000 to $8,000.
Flanagan is already thinking about continuing what he started. “We want to start earlier next year and get even more kids involved. If we start this earlier and get it done, we can raise at least two times the amount of money and get many, many more kids to do it.”
Visit the “Care to Shave” GoFundMe page to contribute to the fundraiser to support Circle of Care.