Firemen Contribute Hair, Money to Nathan’s Quest
Published: February 11, 2006
Members of the Warrensburg Fire Department raised $2,120 to help Nathan Crabtree, a 12-year-old-boy diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia. The 20 members of the WFD had made a commitment weeks earlier to shave their heads if they could not meet their original $1,000 goal. They exceeded their goal… but shaved their heads anyway in support of Nathan’s Quest.
Terry Hill organized the head-shaving benefit and the firefighters met at Station #2 at 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9 with about 40 people in attendance. “This does not surprise me-these men have always stepped up to help the community,” Hill happily said.
While Amy Hill of Centerview’s Hair Port Salon and Lisa Gonzalez of Warrensburg’s Hair Dynamics prepared the cutting stations, the firefighters pumped each other up by constantly commenting, “It’s for a good cause!”
“I wanted to donate my time to help Nathan and this was one way that I could,” said Gonzalez. “We hope he gets better soon.”
“When you have children, you feel like you are obligated to help do something like this,” said Amy.
Anna Koons, 20, of Warrensburg is a female student resident with the WFD. She is one of the many firefighters who shaved their heads to help Crabtree. “It will grow back,” said Koons. “I really hope Nathan beats this because he is so young and has so much to live for. Although my hair will soon be gone, Nathan will always be in my heart!” Koons plans on donating her hair to Locks of Love, an organization that makes prosthetics for children who lose their hair.
As Koons and others received their haircut, Crabtree and his family soon entered Station #2 with big smiles. Nathan seemed dumbfounded as he looked around the building. As many ran for pictures and hugs or a slight conversation, Nathan only smiled. “It is pretty cool that everyone will have a bald head,” said Nathan. “I want to thank everyone in the community for everything that they have done.”
Toward the end of the evening of self-imposed baldness, Monetti’s Restaurante of Warrensburg donated pizza to everyone. Monetti’s has been a big supporter throughout Nathan’s Quest. Monetti shows a big smile as he shows off his bald head. “I will have no regrets at all!” promised Monetti “I understand what they are going through and it’s the least we could do.”
Ralph Harshman believes that this event is great and for a good cause. “Our departments and communities are with Nathan.”
Nathan’s father, Lee Crabtree, says when he heard of the charity event he was thrilled. “It is awesome,” he said.
According to Lee, the family is hanging in there. They are preparing to make the move to Minnesota now that the financial situation has improved. “We are somewhat worried about the new hospital only because all the facilities are different,” said Lee.
Now that Nathan has adjusted to Children’s Mercy, the family is somewhat worried about his social being. “Children’s Mercy is fun and my favorite thing at the hospital is school because it is only for an hour and a half. It is like regular school with math, science, English and social studies, but shorter,” said Nathan. He also says he enjoys visiting with friends.
According to Lee, Nathan tends to keep his feelings to himself, but is beginning to understand everything a little better. He looks forward to seeing the big tower of leggos in the Mall of the Americas while in Minnesota. Dad says that they will take him there before any procedure begins.
“The support that Warrensburg and the surrounding communities such as Odessa, Clinton, Windsor, Lee Summit, Lexington and Lowry City, has been overwhelming,” said a thrilled Lee. “I do not know how to express the things that the community has offered us; we are really thankful!”
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