The second annual Go Bald For Wishes or Hair Massacure took
place at the Metcalfe Lions Den Saturday morning.
What began as a trip into the Rideau Centre in Ottawa by Castor Valley
Elementary student Michael Bates two years ago to offer up his hair for the
Make a Wish Foundation of Eastern Ontario, has grown into a fun event that features
the off surprise.
After an appearance before the Ottawa city council, by Michael and his mom
Kim Sheldrick, Osgoode Ward Councillor Doug Thompson commented that if this
years Massacure could reach the $1,000 in pledges then he would dye his hair
green.
Last year the Go Bald for Wishes event held in Metcalfe
raised around $3,000. This year in only its second year it has managed to bring
in more than $5,400 for the Make a Wish Foundation of Easter Ontario.
This year, as in the past all of the funds raised are kept
in the community.
Allie, a young Metcalfe girl with cystic fibrosis
will see her wish fulfilled as she looks forward to visiting the set of the
movie Twilight. Allie has to take 30 pills each day to keep her well as
spending an hour each day on a machine that keeps her lungs clear. She loves
drams and the theatre and is involved in a local theatre group. Her special
wish to actually go to the Twilight set comes as no surprise.
Kim Sheldrick created the Go Bald for Wishes event as the
result of talking to a Children’s Wish Foundation representative who told her,
“If you have someone who is interested in doing it, encourage them.”
That was
all the mother of two needed to hear.
“This year we have expanded a little and
have had a great response from the community,” she said.
While Sheldrick
arranged the Lions Den for the head shaving moment and put out the food
supplied by A.J.’s Catering, hair stylist Tish Barbosa of Tish’s Hair Design in
Metcalfe set up her table. Her job was to cut all that hair.
Finally Michael
Bates sat down and the hair designer began shaving his hair off while other
children and adults waited their turn to do their part for Allie’s wish. Next
up was St. Michaels High School
student Noah McEvoy who is a Grade 7 student at the Kemptville school. He
raised $450 for the cause.
Councillor Thompson arrived to cheers from friends and
spectators and got ready to have Sheldrick dye his hair green. After his hair
was dyed, Ottawa
mayoral candidate Jim Watson happened to come by and admire the councillor’s
new hair colour.
Many people helped to make this second annual Go bald for
Wishes event a success. They are: A.J.s Catering, 1st Osgoode
Beavers, 1st Osgoode Cubs, the Vernon Womens’ Institute, Shroomfest,
Councillor Doug Thompson, Tish’s Hair Design, MPP Lisa McLeod, MP Pierre
Poilievre, and the Metcalfe and District Lions Club.
Chris Reaney from the Shroomfest committee was on hand to
make a contribution from his group of $500.