This September, in recognition of National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital, Navicent Health (BKO) will renew its commitment to pediatric cancer patients by inviting the community to “Brave the Shave!”

BKO challenges individuals to shave their heads in recognition and support of children with cancer. Those who “Brave the Shave!” may email before and after photos to[email protected] by Thursday, September 10 to be featured on BKO’s social media pages.

“This is the seventh year that we’ve invited people in our community to ‘Brave the Shave!’ and this year, due to COVID-19, we’re going virtual. Regardless of whether we are shaving heads in person or showing support virtually, this is a great way to show our young warriors that we stand with them as they battle cancer,” said Vishwas Sakhalkar, MD, pediatric hematologist and oncologist.

The American Cancer Society estimates that approximately 11,000 children under age 15 in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer this year.

BKO provides inpatient and outpatient care for pediatric cancer patients who hail from counties across central and south Georgia. The region’s only dedicated children’s hospital received approval as a Children’s Oncology Group (COG) affiliate site in 2019. Through its COG affiliation, BKO is now able to provide breakthrough cancer treatments and clinical trials for young cancer patients, in addition to the many cancer services – including chemotherapy, central line placement and monitoring, intravenous infusions and blood transfusions – that it has provided for many years.  

Follow BKO on Facebook at “Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital, Navicent Health” and Instagram at @childrenshospitalmacon to follow the “Brave the Shave!” challenge.