16 hockey players go bald for cause

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Some young local hockey players are showing their support for children battling cancer.

Instead of shaving the ice, players from the Buffalo Regals youth hockey team were shaving their heads on Sunday. It's not that uncommon for a team to show solidarity and do something like this, but these kids are stepping up for a cause.

The 16 teammates went bald to raise money for Camp Good Days, a non-profit organization that gives children with cancer their childhood back. This is the first time a group has done this for Camp Good Days and regional director Lisa Donato couldn't be more happy about it.

"Kids helping kids, there's nothing more compassionate than that. These children do have a lot of compassion for our kids. I heard one of the children say kids who have cancer don't have a choice, they have to lose their hair. We have a choice. I thought that was beautiful," she said.

The organizer of the event recently moved to the area and brought this fundraiser with them. They thought it was important to raise awareness about the disease to their own kids and teach to teach them about all they should be thankful for. And you could say the message definitely got across as the kids, who call themselves "The Top Shelf Shavers" were also happy to take part.

Chase Chodkowski said, "Yes, because some other kids don't have the same opportunities that I have."

"I feel bad that they got it, so I just wanted to have the same as them and feel equal," added Garrett Kessler.

The Buffalo Regals originally wanted to raise $5,000. But after emails were sent out, a group was created on Facebook and after some kids going door-to-door collecting money, the number continued to grow to more than $12,000.

Event organizer Elizabeth McCarthy said, "I want to start crying. It's amazing what these kids have done. And do they really understand? I don't know but their hearts are huge and they've given it their all, they've taken their hair off and they're standing in unison with these children."

Funds are still being collected for Camp Good Days until the end of March. You can find more information on Camp Good Days here. To help their cause, follow this link.