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Community donates $29,840 at JJ Kelley’s St. Baldrick’s fundraiser

“We all did it together,” says newly shaved Laurie Crosby

By Ernst Lamothe Jr.

LANSING, Ill. (March 16, 2019) – Laurie Crosby had promised to go bald if $25,000 was raised for the St. Baldrick’s fundraiser hosted by JJ Kelley’s. By 3:11pm, the total was already at $26,441, according to Jennifer Polley, who was collecting cash and trying to tally it all.

And $6,685 of that came from the Crosby Clippers team, made up of Laurie, her son Josh—who battled leukemia 12 years ago—and various other family members and friends.

This was the first time JJ Kelley’s had hosted a St. Baldrick’s event. Owner JoEllyn Favia said people at St. Baldrick’s told her to expect to raise $10–12,000, an amount typical for a first-time event. “But I said, ‘You don’t know this community,'” said Favia.

The six-hour event saw hundreds of people visit the restaurant and pub to cheer on their teams, participate in the raffles, and donate to help find a cure for pediatric cancer.

The event culminated with the Crosby Clippers taking the stage to shave Laurie’s head.

“We all did it together,” said Laurie after her haircut. “It’s the spirit of all of you—our family who are here today, and our friends, and St. Baldrick’s. We wouldn’t be here….”

JJ Kelley’s Restaurant and Pub is located at 2455 Bernice Road in Lansing, Illinois.

Melanie Jongsma
Melanie Jongsma
Melanie Jongsma grew up in Lansing, Illinois, and believes The Lansing Journal has an important role to play in building community through trustworthy information.