Locals ditch hair for charity
Published: March 19, 2005
More than 80 central Wisconsin residents won’t need to buy shampoo for awhile after taking it all off for charity during a Friday benefit for children’s cancer.
It was all part of St. Baldrick’s Day, an annual event that proves that bald not only is beautiful, but is a good way to raise funds for sick children in need.
The shavees included kindergarteners who have a classmate with cancer, area law enforcement officials who might want to wear a stocking cap on patrol for awhile and even a handful of women eager to part with longer locks to raise funds for cancer research. As participants and spectators alike braved wintery conditions to gather at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point University Center, the aerodynamic new ‘dos produced plenty of smiles - and a lot of head rubbing.
“I thought it was awesome,” said Samantha Erdmann of Wisconsin Rapids, referring to the moment the razor touched her scalp. “I was excited. I wouldn’t do anything different.”
Erdmann, who until moments before had sported chin-length dark hair, said she shaved for her friend’s little sister, one of the evening’s honorees.
Some spectators at Friday’s event were getting used to more than one bald head in the household. Lisa Machotka said she barely recognized husband Scott after he shaved not only his head, but the beard he’d sported for six years.
Scott Machotka recruited a group of fellow Wood County Sheriff’s Department members, as well as sons Alec, Nathan and Cordell for the event. Alec, who at age 4 has eight months left of treatment for leukemia, was one of last year’s St. Baldrick’s honorees.
“It’s kind of neat that they can all do it together,” Lisa Machotka said with a smile.
The evening’s atmosphere was festive, but participants and spectators alike knew the reason for all the fun was a serious cause. The goal, a well-dressed emcee with a huge shamrock hat told applauding spectators, is to raise funds to cure children’s cancer. Mike Ellis, whose nephew, Ben Lansing, was one of last year’s honorees, said the treatment protocols funded by St. Baldrick’s had benefited his family directly.
“It sends funds to the children’s oncology group, and what the children’s oncology group does is partners all over the nation with oncologists,” Ellis said. “I doubt Ben would be around if they wouldn’t have this research available.”
Ben and a group of his kindergarten classmates - dubbed Ben’s buds - were the night’s first shavees. Ben, who has been fighting cancer since he was 16 months old, was looking forward to shaving his head because he’s already losing hair from his latest round of chemotherapy, said his mother, Michelle Lansing.
For last year’s St. Baldrick’s Day, Michelle and several family members got zero-gravity haircuts to support Ben.
Some Stevens Point Police officers also adopted the cue-ball look Friday thanks to a $1,000 donation from the Stevens Point Police Officers Organization.
“We had an overwhelming response,” said Officer Tom Zenner, who until Friday hadn’t been shorn since basic training. More than a dozen SPPD officers signed up for the event, he said.
Hull Fire and Rescue also sent some members to be shaved, as did Wood County Protective Services.
But some participants drove even further for their haircuts.
Chris Steffen, who lives near Oshkosh, made the trek with 1-year-old daughter Emma. He kept her on his lap while in the hot seat because he was afraid she wouldn’t recognize him without his hair. Because she was there through the process, Emma seemed fine with the transition. Steffen, who is friends with Ben Lansing’s father, said he was there to support his friends as well as the cause itself.
“I’ve got three little kids,” Steffen said. “And I can’t imagine going through what the parents and the kids have to go through.”
The local St. Baldrick’s event has grown from seven participants in its first year to 35 last year and more than 80 for 2005. Word-of-mouth has helped the event grow, organizers said.
As for the response from family and friends, Zenner said he had one key hurdle to clear before Friday evening’s event.
“The wife gave me the go,” he said with a smile.
If you enjoyed this good news Subscribe to Good News Blog
Share this
To share this simply copy and paste one of the below URL's: