Laurent and Zaira Perrier have raised $11,000 for sick children and they’re barely out of diapers.

The siblings, 4 and 2, are this year’s youngest St Baldrick’s Day participants.

They will have their heads shaved tomorrow to raise funds for childhood cancer research.

Laurent volunteered after hearing his parents discussing it.

“I am going to shave my hair to help doctors make new medicine for the children who are sick,” he said.

His little sister Zaira also wanted to help.

“She just likes to copy her big brother,” said their mother, Jaya Perrier.

She said her children’s ages worked to their advantage.

“I work at Validus Re,” she said. “A couple of people have commented on how cute they are and said they are going to donate. When it is kids shaving it has a bigger impact. I am a bit worried that Zaira might be afraid on the day.”

Her husband, Sylvain Perrier, shaved his head for St Baldrick’s in 2003; the family has donated funds for years.

Daniel Sullivan, co-president of St Baldrick’s Bermuda, said: “I’m just blown away. I have never seen kids that young doing it. I just hope they don’t get too scared at the event.”

He thought that some of the younger children probably didn’t fully appreciate what they were doing, but the older children understood.

“They are trying to do something to help sick kids,” he said. “Down the road they could be helping themselves.

“Any time there is a cancer cure, it helps kids worldwide. It is awesome that we are getting the younger generation into it.

“Hopefully, we’ll cure childhood cancers and won’t need St Baldrick’s anymore.”

A planned shave at Docksider Pub & Restaurant has raised $131,500 of its $150,000 goal.

Separate shaves are taking place at Saltus Grammar School, where students have raised $166,000, and at Warwick Academy, where students have raised $39,500. Students at Mount Saint Agnes have raised $17,500.

“Participation from the schools is really growing organically,” Mr Sullivan said. “Some schools such as BHS have asked if their students can come to the Docksider event.”

One such student is Chiara MacKay, 12.

“I’m shaving my head to remember my grandfather, Mark Smith,” she said. “He died from a brain tumour in 1997, before I was born. I never got to meet him.”

This will be her first time shaving her head for St Baldrick’s. She said she felt nervous but also excited.

“All my friends have been very supportive,” she said. “One of my aunties has been crocheting little hats for me and another has been buying hats for me in town. That’s really nice.”

So far she has raised $2,000.

Her brother Braydon 7, will shave his head with the Saltus group.

Vittoria Canale, 33, is this year’s top fundraiser, having collected more than $37,000 for the cause.

“To raise the money I’m really networking,” she said. “I’ve asked my colleagues at Guy Carpenter. I’ve also asked all my friends on Facebook.

“I have been involved as a committee member for a couple of years. I wanted to take being an ambassador to another level and stand in solidarity with kids who have cancer. I have no specific involvement with it, but I feel for people who do. I am really excited and hope that my actions become infectious.”

Karolyn Darrell Burgess shaved her head five years ago because it sounded like a great cause. She plans to do it again this year.

“I will be doing it with my sister, Amy Darrell, and my friend Marissa Trott,” she said. “My sister is in Canada so we will be doing it together through a Skype feed. We call ourselves Team Peeled Onions.”

She said shaving her head showed her what people with cancer sometimes go through.

“The first time I shaved my head, I was in a store the next day and I heard two women talking about my head,” she said. “One was saying, ‘Oh look, she doesn’t have any hair’.

“The other said, ‘Maybe she was involved in that shave event’. If I really had been sick that would have made me very uncomfortable.

“They could have at least lowered their voices or waited until they were outside the shop to discuss it.”

People who take part have the option of sponsoring a child battling cancer.

“I sponsored a little girl,” said the 37-year-old. “Shortly before I shaved my head I signed on to see her status and it had changed to angel. That meant she died. Then I really understood what this was all about.”

She has raised $2,000 and hopes to raise $5,000 through Team Peeled Onions.

The Docksider shave takes place tomorrow at 5pm.

Look for St Baldrick’s Bermuda on Facebook or visit www.stbaldricks.org