It’s the 15th year in a row that Kitty Hoynes in Armory Square shaved hundreds of heads for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, an organization that raises funds to find cures for children with cancer.
Luke’s Syracuse Army was one of the biggest teams at Kitty Hoynes this year. Members raised more than $500,000 in honor of Luke Ungerer who was three years old when he died in 2016.
Team Captain Marc Herron says it’s not just about the money, but something much bigger.
“Year after year, we’re able to raise so much funds,” Herron said. “Not just the funds but the awareness of the need for pediatric cancer research.”
Luke’s Dad, Scott Ungerer, says the children who have passed away or are in the fight are reminders that there’s work to be done.
“I think that’s the thing that is a struggle for a lot of people and any of these childhood diseases,” Ungerer said. “They’re innocent and we’ve gotta do more for them.”
Luke was born on February 7, 2012. Scott says it was the best day of his life. Scott and his wife, Sheila Ungerer, waited to know the gender until the day of the birth. Scott remembers seeing so much hair and wondering if it was a boy or girl. It turned out their perfect little boy, Luke, happened to be born with a head full of hair.
That head full of hair eventually had to be shaved after Luke suffered a seizure in 2015. Luke was perfectly healthy until then. Scott and Sheila thought it was a seizure disorder, but doctors discovered a large tumor growing in Luke’s brain. He had brain cancer.
After the diagnosis, Luke had a 12-hour brain surgery, which then led to radiation and rounds of chemotherapy.
None of this helped. Luke’s cancer only progressed. His parents were left with no other options.
Luke passed away on January 14th, 2016. Luke’s Syracuse Army was formed shortly afterwards to honor this brave little boy.
Luke’s legacy is tied to the Central New York community in more ways than one. After the St. Baldrick’s event at Kitty Hoynes, Morgan Road Elementary held and assembly to add some new “shavees” to Luke’s Army.
Team Captain Marc Herron teaches second grade at the school. One of his students, Jason McCormick, shaved his head at Kitty Hoynes and did other things to help the cause.
Jason’s mom, Jennifer McCormick, says it’s important to know that you’re never too small to make a difference.
“My son did a lot of fundraising,” McCormick said. “He made care packages for Golisano Children’s Hospital for Luke’s birthday. He went out and talked to neighbors, collected bottles and cans.”
Luke and his army continue to spolight the strength of his legacy. He’s present in the lives of those he meant so much to, and even to those who never got the chance to meet him.
(Track 1) .03
Bagpipes, in a Syracuse restaurant hundreds lined up…
(Track 2) .03
…Not for food, but to get their head shaved.
(Track 3) .06
You may think no one chooses to go bald on their own, but what if the cause is bigger than the person?
(Track 4) .07
It’s the 15th year in a row that Kitty Hoynes in Armory Square is shaving hundreds of heads for St. Baldrick’s Foundation.
{*** SOT FULL 1***}
(CG:Marc Herron, Luke’s Syracuse Army Team Captain)
[TAKE SOT INCUE:Year after year OUTCUE:Pediatric cancer research DURATION:0’10”]
(“Year after year, we’re able to raise so much funds and not just the funds but awareness of the need for pediatric cancer research.”)
(Track 5) .07
Raising over five hundred thousand dollars, Luke’s Syracuse Army was one of the biggest teams at Kitty Hoynes this year.
{*** SOT FULL 2***}
(CG:Scott Ungerer, Luke’s Dad)
[TAKE SOT INCUE:A lot of OUTCUE:More for them DURATION:0’15”]
(“A lot of these children who have been impacted who have either passed away or are in the fight, they’re innocent. I think that’s the thing that is a struggle for a lot of people and any of these childhood diseases. They’re innocent and we’ve gotta do more for them.”)
(Track 6) .07
Scott Ungerer is Luke Ungerer’s dad. Luke was born on February 7th, 2012. Scott says it was the best day of his life.
{*** SOT FULL 3***}
(CG:Scott Ungerer, Luke’s Dad)
[TAKE SOT INCUE:Oh my gosh OUTCUE:All this hair DURATION:0’09”]
(“Oh my gosh, look at that hair and I’m like is that a boy, is it a girl. I mean he was born with all this hair.”)
(Track 7) .07
A head full of hair, that eventually had to be shaved. Luke was perfectly healthy until suffering a seizure in 2015.
(Track 8) .09
What Scott and his wife Sheila thought was a seizure disorder turned into doctors discovering a large tumor growing in his brain. It was brain cancer.
(Track 9) .09
After a 12-hour brain surgery, radiation and rounds of chemotherapy, Luke’s cancer only progressed. His parents were told there were no other options.
(Track 10) .05
Luke passed away on January 14th, 2016, just a few weeks before his fourth birthday. (Track 11) .05
And this is why Luke’s Syracuse Army was formed … to honor such a brave little boy.
{*** STAND UP ***}
(CG:Alexandria Bennett, NCC News)
[TAKE SOT INCUE:Things have wrapped OUTCUE:To this community DURATION:0’10”]
(“Things have wrapped up for St. Baldrick’s at Kitty Hoynes this year, but from one location to the next..the presence of Luke’s legacy is tied to this community.”)
(Track 12) .07
The next day, the students at Morgan Road Elementary gathered to support some new shavees being added to Luke’s Army.
(Track 13) .12
Team captain Marc Herron teaches second grade at the school. One of his students is Jason McCormick. Jason shaved his head at Kitty Hoynes and did a few other things in preparation for the special day.
{*** SOT FULL 4***}
(CG:Jennifer McCormick, Jason’s Mom)
[TAKE SOT INCUE:It’s important to OUTCUE:Bottles and cans DURATION:0’09”]
(“It’s important to know that you’re never too small to make a difference. My son did a lot of fundraising. He made care packages for Golisano Children’s Hospital for Luke’s birthday. He went out and talked to neighbors, collected bottles and cans.”)
{*** SOT FULL 5***}
(CG:Jennifer McCormick, Jason’s Mom) [TAKE SOT
INCUE:For Jason and OUTCUE:That came together DURATION:0’10”]
(“For Jason and all the other brave kids who were part of the event. I think it’s important for the kids to see that it’s not just them, it’s a community that came together.”)
(Track 14) .06
Luke’s legacy continues to live on, and when thinking about him, there are a few things to keep in mind…
{*** SOT FULL 6***}
(CG:Scott Ungerer, Luke’s Dad)
[TAKE SOT INCUE:The first OUTCUE:Being positive DURATION:0’02”]
(“The first, being positive.”)
{*** SOT FULL 7***}
(CG:Scott Ungerer, Luke’s Dad)
[TAKE SOT INCUE:Number two OUTCUE:Be kind DURATION:0’02”]
(“Number two, be kind.”)
{*** SOT FULL 8***}
(CG:Scott Ungerer, Luke’s Dad)
[TAKE SOT INCUE:The third thing OUTCUE:Up a room DURATION:0’07”]
(“The third thing and this is one thing that I loved about Luke, smile. He had this smile that would light up a room.”)
(Track 15) .02
And others share that same feeling…
{*** SOT FULL 9***}
(CG:Marc Herron, Luke’s Syracuse Army Team Captain)
[TAKE SOT
INCUE:Just how open
OUTCUE:Since day one DURATION:0’06”]
(“Just how open Luke was, I mean his smile lights up a room and has lit up a room since day one.”)
{*** SOT FULL 10***}
(CG:Scott Ungerer, Luke’s Dad)
[TAKE SOT
INCUE:I think the
OUTCUE:In the moment DURATION:0’06”]
(“I think the last thing that Luke did and I’d say from his legacy is to be present in the moment.”)
(Track 16) .09
And with each moment, Luke stays present in the lives of those he meant so much to and even to those who never got the chance to meet him. “In Syracuse, Alexandria Bennett, N-C-C News.”
