Weekend event challenges locals to 'Rock the Bald'

COBB COUNTY, Ga. (FOX 5 Atlanta) - Listen closely this Saturday, and you just might hear the constant buzz of clippers as dozens of people get a very short new haircut.  You’ll hear some cheers in there, too – since the head-shaving party is happening for a good cause.

Coming up this Saturday, Sports & Social at The Battery Atlanta will host a “Rock the Bald ATL” head-shaving event for childhood cancer research charity St. Baldrick’s Foundation.  Volunteer organizer Brandon Benefield has participated in events for St. Baldrick’s for a dozen years, and this is his second year putting together a fundraising event at Sports & Social. 

Last year, Benefield rounded up roughly 25 people willing to shave their heads, raising nearly $26,000 for St. Baldrick’s – all of which went toward the charity’s mission of funding childhood cancer research.  Celebrity guests at last year’s event included Atlanta Falcons Ben Garland and Quincy Mauger and Atlanta United player Julian Gressel.                                                                                               

Saturday’s event will run from noon to 5 p.m., and Sports & Social is located at 825 Battery Avenue SE, Suite 600, in Atlanta – right next to SunTrust Park.

We just couldn’t wait to meet Brandon Benefield and hear more about his mission to get people to “rock the bald” – so we spent the morning with him at Sports & Social to get a sneak-peek at this weekend’s big event.  Click the video player above to check it out!