Pueblo County sheriff's Deputy Brad Riccillo has been growing his usually shaved hair out since Oct. 10.

There's no super long locks, but it's coming around.

The team captain of the sheriff's office "Super Team", St. Baldrick's Foundation is growing his hair out only to have it shaved again on March 16.

That's when the foundation is holding its annual St. Baldrick's event at Jimmy's Tavern, 324 S. McCulloch Blvd., in Pueblo West. The event is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The event raises money for childhood cancer research.

"I keep my head shaved from the day of the event all the way until right around October. This is the total effect. I am going to have a full head of hair leading up to the day I get it shaved off," Riccillo said.

"I guess you can say, I am going to brave the shave," he added with a laugh.

For the past five years Riccillo has put together a team of deputies for the event.

"We are going to continue to raise funds up until March 16. Then we will all go to Jimmy's Tavern and we'll all get our heads shaved. The reason we shave our heads is to show solidarity with children who have to shave their heads because they are affected with cancer and they really don't have a choice," he said.

Riccillo said the reason he got involved with the foundation is because cancer affected three people he knows very well.

He said his grandmother and grandfather died from cancer, and a fellow deputy suffered through the disease as well.

"About five years ago one of the deputies I work with was diagnosed with cancer. It was a very, very hard situation and I saw the struggles that he went through and I saw the struggles that his family went through," Riccillo recalled.

"We both had children who were about the same age and just to see how terrible it was for him, I couldn't imagine how awful it would be for a child to have to deal with those types of things."

Riccillo said he believes the Super Team can make a positive change on a local level.

This year the group has a goal to raise more than $28,000.

"Last year it was $9,999 and we were able to raise more than $17,000," Riccillo said.

On Feb. 9, the sheriff's office will hold its first annual cocktail mixer in support of the St. Baldrick's Foundation.

It is scheduled to be held at The Clink, 140 Central Main St., Suite 222, at 6 p.m. There also will be a silent auction.

Tickets in advance are $50 per individual and $75 per couple. Tickets at the door are $55 per individual and $80 per couple.

"All the funds raised from ticket sales and the cash bar are going directly toward the St. Baldrick's Foundation on behalf of Super Team PCSO," Riccillo said.

"I am really excited about this event. It's going to be the first of its kind."

For more information, call 281-0173. Visit www.stbaldrick's.org and search "Brad Riccillo" in the upper right corner to give a donation.

Written by:  Anthony Meastas
The Pueblo Chieftain
Feb. 2, 2019

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Twitter: @mestas3517

Pueblo County sheriff's Deputy Brad Riccillo has been growing his usually shaved hair out since Oct. 10.