From now until the evening of March 18, don’t let a barber or stylist come anywhere near your head. Instead, save your locks for the cutting block on St. Baldrick’s Day. That’s when the staff of Aesthetics by Naomi will bring out their clippers and cheerfully shear your tresses.

They don’t need the practice, of course. Instead, it’s all part of the ninth annual fundraiser for research to help children who have cancer.

Scott Seddon said the target amount to raise locally is from $20,000 to $25,000, which has been collected the past couple of years.

He recalled that the first year just shy of $3,000 was generated, and in spite of some ups and downs, the giving has considerably increased. That speaks well of Western Tidewater’s desire to help children in any way they can, even if it means a real close shave of the scalp.

Unfortunately, there are no St. Baldrick’s events scheduled for Suffolk this year, but that doesn’t mean that Suffolk folks can’t help support the Western Tidewater effort. A short drive to Franklin is all it takes. This year’s event will again be at Fred’s Restaurant, 107 S. Main St. The event begins at 6 p.m. with cutting to begin at 7 p.m.

For details, visit www.stbaldricks.org/events/Freds2017.