Firefighters raise money for terminally ill children
Published: August 8, 2006
Firefighter Frank Liscio’s haircut may not have looked very becoming of a public servant, but serving the public was what his Mohawk was all about.
Liscio and several of his colleagues in the Paterson Firefighters Association submitted to barber’s shears Saturday to raise money for St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center’s Child Life Program for terminally ill children.
The firefighters, as well as some of their friends and family, collected donations from sponsors in exchange for having their heads shaved.
The day raised $3,500, with more donations coming in, Liscio said. In the four years that the Firefighters Association has held the fundraiser, it has raised more than $20,000 for St. Joseph’s Child Life Program, he said.
Like products on an assembly line, people sat down and had their heads shaved clean. Everybody except Liscio, who left a strip of hair down the middle of his head.
“I’m just doing it to aggravate everybody,” he said, smiling. “I’ll shave the rest of it off later.”
Firefighter Michael McGorty was making a double donation. In addition to raising $500 from sponsors, McGorty was saving his long blond hair to send to Locks of Love, a non-profit organization that helps provide hairpieces for children who have alopecia, or medical hair loss.
McGorty said adjusting from wavy locks several inches long to a bare head won’t be tough.
“A little more suntan lotion, I guess,” he said.
Capt. Glenn Calamita had his head shaved along with his sons, Jake, 6, and Luke, 5.
His wife, Erin, and daughter, Kylie, 8, decided to keep their long blond hair.
Firefighter John Candelo already sports a shaved head, but he brought his nephew, Ivan Palmer, 12, and his son, Jovan, 13.
“It feels like there’s a lot of wind blowing,” Ivan said, after shedding his short black hair.
Jovan said having a shaved head had benefits for him and for others.
“It’s easier, because you don’t have a lot to take care of,” Jovan said. “I know it’s for a good cause, and I came here to cut my hair for people that are more unfortunate. I’m very lucky to be able to do this.”
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