The kindest cut of all
Published: June 1, 2005
Whenever one of Kelleen Schonfeldt’s three daughters expresses an interest in helping other people, the single mom does everything she can to encourage them.
Even if that means shaving her head.
This Friday, Kelleen and her 12-year-old daughter, Jessica Schonfeldt-Taylor, will lose their locks in support of the Canadian Cancer Society’s (CCS) sixth annual Relay for Life.
Her two other daughters, Seana, 11, and Drew, 9, will also participate in the event, although they aren’t cutting their hair.
Jessica will lop off most of her pretty, back-length brown hair and donate it to make a wig for a cancer patient. Her mom is shaving off all of her short, spiky blond hair. So far, family and friends have pledged about $480 in support of the mother and daughter.
The hair-cutting will take place at 6:30 pm on the main stage set up at Laurentian University’s track.
Relay for Life, which starts at 7 pm and will continue until 7 am Saturday, honours cancer survivors and those who have succumbed to the disease.
It is also the cancer society’s biggest fundraiser, raising more than $1 million in Sudbury alone over the past five years.
“It’s something that Jessica wanted to do, and I felt it was important to support her, especially because my 12-year-old wants to do a good thing. It’s great for us to do as a family, too. It’s a good event for us all to get involved in,” says Kelleen.
“It teaches them a lot about cancer, because they’ll be hearing lots about it when we’re at the event. Also, it teaches them that one person can make a difference. You can’t just sit back and let the world pass you by.”
The girl got the idea to cut her hair in support of the CCS last summer after talking to a cousin who had shaved her hair for charity. Jessica decided
to grow her hair long and cut it off just before this year’s Relay for Life event.
“Last year my cousin shaved her head for cancer. And when I was in Grade 3, a friend died of leukemia, and so I really wanted to do it,” says
Jessica.
“It’s just hair. It’s going to grow back…It’s good, because it’s going to raise money, and I’ve got long enough hair that I can make a wig for someone.”
Like her daughter, Kelleen isn’t scared of losing her hair.
“It’s already so short, so I don’t have a lot to lose. Besides, it’s hair. It’s not really a big deal to me. But I knew that it would give people a little bit more incentive to pledge us. As a result, we’re already up to $480. We’re pretty proud of that.”
Vanessa Perri, fundraising co-ordinator with CCS, hopes to raise more than $400,000 at this year’s event with more than 2,000 participants expected to attend.
The relay will be launched with a lap around the track for cancer survivors followed by the relay itself. Participants will be in teams consisting of a dozen or so members.
The highlight of the event is the Luminary Ceremony where thousands of candles will be lit at dusk and the lights around the track will be shut off.
Luminaries will also be set up in the bleachers spelling out the words hope and the French equivalent espoire.
Each candle is lit in memory of a cancer victim or in honour of those who live with the illness.
After all the luminaries are glowing, a moment of silence is observed.
“It’s an emotional night, said Perri. “It’s kind of like a party atmosphere because it’s a celebration of all the survivors. There’s a lot of tears and sobbing but then everyone picks up and the celebration resumes.”
Luminary candles are available for $5 right up until the event at any Scotiabank location or the CCS Sudbury branch at 1780 Regent St. S.
All of the funds raised will go to help people within the community providing invaluable services to patients with cancer.
Some of the services subsidized through donations include transportation to hospitals or the regional cancer centre, pediatric oncology family assistance program and emotional support.
Funds also go toward research, health promotion, future fundraising and public policy influence.
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