Through participation with the St. Baldrick’s Foundation and Marian Catholic High School’s nationally renowned Color Guard, students are taking the fight against cancer into their own hands in the early stages of the second semester.

After raising more than $15,000 with about 20 participants last year, Marian is hoping to eclipse that total when it conducts another St. Baldrick’s event on Sunday, Feb. 24 at 2 p.m. Students will shave their heads in solidarity with children fighting cancer and help raise critical funds for childhood cancer research.

Marian began involvement with the event through the South Suburban Police and Fire. “It was fun and inspirational seeing our students shave their heads for children with cancer,” said Sr. Teresa Marron, Marian’s faculty representative for the event.

On-air talent Patrick Elwood of Fox News Chicago has also sent out a challenge to other Chicago area schools, targeting a goal of more than $1,000,000 raised this year. Elwood and his camera crew visited Marian last week to publicize the event, as he also found time to visit basketball practice and learn more about the Marian Color Guard’s emphasis on cancer awareness.

A senior member of the guard has watched her mother wage a successful fight against cancer, which has helped provide motivation for a couple Color Guard projects.

“Our 2008 program is entitled "Can I... Change the World?," according to guard director Jamie Oakley. “It is an emotional program designed to inspire people to find a cause that they believe in and to do something to help. The program is told from a teenager's point of view, and tries to show that everyone has a voice, and that no matter what age you are, your actions can matter. We highlight programs such as Habitat for Humanity, The Walk for Breast Cancer, Action Against Hunger and UNICEF.”

In addition to the 2008 competitive program, the Winter Guard is working on two community projects. First is the Pajama Project, a program that collects new pajamas and donates them to orphanages, foster care, and battered and abused shelters. The second project will be a benefit performance night where the proceeds will go to Oprah Winfrey's Angel Network to sponsor families in New Orleans that are trying to rebuild their homes.

The Marian Catholic Winter Guard began in 1997 and since then, has been the Midwest Color Guard Circuit Scholastic Open Champions from 1997-1999, 2001-2003, and 2007. Marian was also the Midwest Color Guard Circuit Scholastic World Champion from 2004-2006. Nationally, the winter guard has traveled to numerous regional competitions and has been a finalist at Winter Guard International World Championships in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2007.