Shaving for a cause

With St. Patrick’s Day two weeks away, what better way to celebrate than raising money to shave one’s head to support children battling cancer?

At noon on March 21 at Momo’s Too Sports Bar & Grill at 667 Montauk Highway in Bayport, members of local nonprofit The Late [Knight] Warriors will team up with the Long Ireland Beer Company and other eager shavees to go bald during an annual St. Baldrick’s fundraising event.

At the fundraiser, live music, a buffet, a DJ, and fun opportunities to root and encourage shavees on will be on offer.

Originally just a group of friends working in the bar and restaurant industry who met during late nights at the then Half Penny Pub in Sayville, The Late [Knight] Warriors came about to support one of their own in need, and has grown into a nonprofit assisting local families in need and providing food and gifts for families during the holidays, among other philanthropic ventures.

“We wanted to take a small community of bartenders, restaurant owners, police officers, patrons… who are coming from different avenues in life, different jobs, different backgrounds, sexual orientations— everything—and show everybody that, hey, no matter where you come from… everybody comes together for the same cause: that’s to help the less fortunate,” said Nikolai Belinsky, Late [Knight] Warriors president. Belinsky partnered with Sheila Malone, captain of their St. Baldrick’s team, The Late [Knight] Hooligans, and former general manager of the Long Ireland Beer Company in Riverhead.

Despite closing last December, Malone said she wanted to continue the five-yearlong St. Baldrick’s tradition she used to host at her company to keep giving back to children in need through fun and camaraderie. Malone said some brave shavees agree to accept challenges at the event, like only having the middle of their hair shaved off until they raise a certain amount of money, or having their eyebrows shaved off, too.

Malone first got involved with St. Baldrick’s in 2008 after a friend’s son was diagnosed with leukemia, and said that the company’s organizers provide caring support for a cause she feels is universally understood.

“Everyone, unfortunately, knows somebody that is either struggling with cancer,” Malone said, highlighting the need for fundraising.

This sentiment rings true for multiyear shavee Chris Devine, who got involved with St. Baldrick’s to honor his friend’s nephew, who died of cancer at around 6 years old. Devine played live music at Long Ireland Beer Company, and said he “blew off” his friend’s insistence that he shave his head with him at the annual event.

But when his friend died five years ago, everything changed.

“The year after he passed away, I just stepped [into] his shoes, [carried] a torch,” Devine said.

Devine said he usually raises around $2,000 on his own and is excited to see how the different organizations come together at Momo’s Too.

“I’m sure he’s smiling down at me, seeing that I’m doing it, but especially since I always told him I would never do it,” Devine said.

Late [Knight] Warriors board member and one of the top fundraisers, Elvis Cage, said the event “warms” his heart. Despite being bald, Cage said he plans to shave his beard he’s grown out over the past year. As of March 3, Cage has raised $838, coming in second behind participant David Klosner, who has raised $887. The Late [Knight] Hooligans have so far raised $4,848 of their $5,000, with two weeks still left to go.

Momo’s Too has raised at least $13,000 out of its $40,000 fundraising goal as of March 3. To learn more about the upcoming St. Baldrick’s event at Momo’s Too, visit stbaldricks.org/events/momos2026. And to learn more about The Late [Knight] Warriors, visit lateknightwarriors.com