Bald Eagles Take Flight On Detroit Avenue: St. Edward "Clips For Cancer" Event

Bald eagles in the Emerald Canyon.

Photo by Jim O'Bryan

Bald eagles have become a common sight on the western end of Lakewood, where our national bird nests in the Emerald Canyon of the Metroparks. Central Lakewood became home for hundreds more “bald eagles” on May 1st, when St. Edward High School students and faculty had their heads shaved at the school. The event raised money to fight cancer, and it paid tribute to a beloved member of the Eagle community.

St. Edward had hosted “Clips for Cancer” events the previous two years to benefit St. Baldrick’s Foundation, an organization that fights childhood cancer. Like most organizations, St. Edward held those events in March. However, in 2015 they decided to move the date in honor of “Big Mike” Orbany.

“Big Mike,” the younger brother of St. Edward Senior Matt Orbany, died on May 1, 2014 at the age of nine years old. Orbany had battled medulloblastoma (cancer of the brain and spine)  since being diagnosed in October 2010. Big Mike was a big fan of St. Edward, including all of its sports teams. Through Matt, he met the players and coaches of the Eagle football and basketball teams. The athletes and coaches were impressed with Mike’s courage and strength. Despite his medical hardships, “Big Mike” was always a source of spirit, hope, and smiles. He inspired the community to adopt the letters “NEGU,” representing “Never Ever Give Up.”

This year’s event attracted hundreds of students that sacrificed their hair. Among the students was David Pratt, a freshman. “It was for a good cause, and I needed a haircut,” said Pratt. Even principal Frank O’Linn, a 1993 St. Edward graduate, got his head shaved. He was impressed with his students’ willingness to participate in a good cause. “This is a great example of our mission in action,” he said about the project.

Key organizers of the event included Mark Urban and Matt Stepnowsky. Mr. Urban has been an English teacher at the school for eleven years, and Mr. Stepnowsky teaches film studies. The day’s activities concluded with an after-school prayer service in memory of “Big Mike.” Matt spoke in memory of his brother. “He never complained about having cancer in his body and knowing he might die soon. He just wanted to be a normal kid. So just remember to never, ever give up no matter what.”

Mike Deneen

Mike Deneen has extensive experience covering sports and community stories for the Lakewood Observer. Mike has been a Senior Industry Analyst for the Freedonia Group in Cleveland, Ohio, since 1998. He has appeared on CNBC’s Closing Bell, NPR’s MarketPlace and has been quoted multiple times in The Wall Street Journal. He has made multiple guest appearances on ESPN Cleveland radio. Mike also writes for Inside Northwestern, a website that covers Northwestern Wildcat Athletics. You can reach him on Twitter at @MikeDeneen1 

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Volume 11, Issue 10, Posted 4:47 PM, 05.12.2015