More than 70 warm-hearted locals are donating their hair for the BC Children's Hospital oncology ward this weekend, with many more gathering at the Adventure Centre to watch the spectacle.
During the annual Balding For Dollars event Saturday (May 15) from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., a handful of chairs manned by hairdressers with clippers in hand await the dozens of volunteers who have been taking pledges for the past three months.
It's the 10th year the wildly popular event has stormed Squamish, beginning with two mothers whose boys were diagnosed with cancer.
And this year may be the most popular year yet since it may be the last one -that's if other organizers don't come forward to step into the mothers' shoes.
"We are looking for a recruit to take it over," said founding organizer Cindy Turner. "I think being the last year it's going to be busy."
Turner's son Nicholas Gulycz and Cheryl Gordon's son Bryan Gordon are now healthy young men set to graduate from Howe Sound Secondary this year, so the women have decided to step away - but it may be easier said than done.
"I'm a little worried that I'm not going to be able to give it up just because I don't want it to get forgotten about," said Turner. "It's been going on for so long -it's been a good thing."
Over the past 10 years, the event has raised over $300,000 for the children's oncology ward. And this year's goal is to add tens of thousands more.
While the locks fall, locals can also roam the Adventure Centre and enjoy live blues and rock entertainment provided by the married duo named the Overcomers, and snappy jazz numbers from the Don Ross student band. Fun activities for the kids include bouncing around in the ever-popular padded sumo wrestling suits. And locals can also bid on a huge silent auction that includes high ticket items during the Balding For Dollars silent auction.
Businesses have donated luxury packages such as spa treatments, stays at the Executive Suites and Mountain Retreat hotels, personal training sessions at Garibaldi Fitness studio, a round of golf for two at the Squamish Valley Golf and Country Club, naturopathic consultation at the Garibaldi Health Clinic and Sunday brunch at Rockwell's restaurant.
Folks can also drop by for lunch during the day's events and enjoy hot dogs, hamburgers and pop.
For more information go to www.baldingfordollars.com.
