St. Balrick's 2026: 19 Years of "Yes, And" Shaving
- Guy Winterbotham
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
In the world of improv, we have a golden rule: "Yes, And." It’s the engine that keeps a scene moving. You accept what your partner gives you, and you add something to it.
Nineteen years ago, a player at CSz Richmond named Jenny Walters gave our theater a "suggestion" we couldn't ignore: shaving heads to fight childhood cancer. We said "Yes," and nearly two decades later, we’re still adding to it.
By the Numbers (The "Serious" Side of Funny)
If you’ve ever been to one of our St. Baldrick’s matches, you know it’s chaotic. You’ve seen players with half-shaved heads running around the stage. You've heard the roar of the crowd as the clippers come out. But behind the laughter is a set of numbers that even Dave Gau, our long-time event producer, finds hard to wrap his head around:
19 years of community commitment.
340 heads shaved on our stage.
$244,912 raised (and counting).
That’s nearly a quarter of a million dollars raised by our small improv theater right here in Richmond, VA. This total isn't just a lucky break; it’s the result of a momentum that refuses to stop. Even when the world was shutting down in 2020 and 2021, we didn't say "No." We shifted to virtual shaves via Zoom, keeping the clippers buzzing and the fundraising alive even when our stage lights were dark.
Filling the Research Gap
Why do we keep doing it? Because the "suggestion" isn't finished.
As Dave often points out, we do this for the "Honored Kids" and their families—the ones who don’t get to choose their "scenes." We do it because when the National Cancer Institute only allocates 4% of its budget to children, the research community is left with a massive "Yes, But."
Last year alone, St. Baldrick’s saw $30 million worth of vital research proposals, but they only had the funds to grant $10 million. That’s $20 million of life-saving potential left on the cutting room floor.
Adding Your "And"
Dave's has been at the helm for 18 of these 19 years, driven by the memory of a child on his own block who fought a brave battle. He’s seen improv scenes come and go, but the mission remains the same: we aren't just here to shave heads; we’re here to fund the cures that pharmaceutical companies often overlook because they aren't "profitable."
We are currently on a mission to raise $20,000 by the end of our CSz Richmond St. Baldrick's Day 2026 fundraising event. If we hit our goals, we aren't just performing a show; we are investing in an average of 71 productive years of life for every child saved by this research.
Will you join our legacy? Help us turn that $244,912 into a round $250,000 or more. Your donation is the "And" that keeps this story going.
P.S. Last year, I colored my hair blue, but I didn't get to shave it off during the show. This year, I'm committed to getting shaved. Turn your donation into a vote for my hair color on April 11th: Pink, Blue, Purple, or Red. Donate, then leave your choice in the comments. Let's make Dave proud and the stats even better.
