Bald by Design, a local fundraising team for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, recently reached $1 million raised, a feat 11 years in the making.

The team’s fundraising efforts will culminate in the belated St. Baldrick’s Foundation head-shaving event, for which the team has already raised over $94,000. The annual event, typically held in the spring, was postponed due to the pandemic.

Led by team captain Phil Ralston, president of American Nevada Company, the Bald by Design team was created in 2010 by Windom Kimsey, president, and CEO of TSK Architects, whose daughter, Claire, had been diagnosed with leukemia at age 10.

To participate, fundraisers generate donations for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a nonprofit organization that raises money to help fund grants, research, facilities expansion, and cutting-edge treatments for childhood cancer, with the promise to shave their heads in solidarity with children who have lost their hair due to chemotherapy and radiation.

Claire went into remission after treatment and has remained healthy since going on to complete her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. The Bald by Design team, however, decided to continue to raise funds in her honor, for those not as fortunate.

In 2012, the Las Vegas chapter of the American Institute of Architects became the sponsor of the Bald by Design team, with the continued support of the American Nevada Company.

The team raised more than $100,000 every single year from 2016 to 2019 — with $93,645 raised in 2020, despite the pandemic.

In 2019, Ralston was asked to join the St. Baldrick’s Foundation board of directors. Alone, he has raised almost $380,000 since 2008 for the cause.

The fundraiser will take place Saturday, Sept. 18 from 5:40 -7 p.m. at McMullan’s Irish Pub 4650 W. Tropicana Ave. #110 Las Vegas, NV 89103.