Locals shave hair, honour loved ones

For their loved ones who have battled cancer, five people shaved off their hair and raised over $7,000 for the Terry Fox Foundation's Great Canadian Hair "Do" last Thursday.

Since 2007, Ramona Slade, a physio assistant at the Lac La Biche Healthcare Centre has organized a head shave ever year. The shavees raise money for the Terry Fox Foundation and if their hair is long enough, they donate it to a non-profit organization that creates wigs for people who have lost their hair.

"The Terry Fox Foundation do see Lac La Biche as one of the major contributers," said Slade. "We're one of the few towns who do the run and the shave."

Lac La Biche is one of the few places in Alberta who have done the shave consistently since its nation-wide inception in 2007. Slade also prefers to stick to actual head shaving to stay true to Terry's experience.

"The head shave is something [the organization] holds dear to their hearts because for Terry to lose his hair, [it] was more upsetting for him than losing his leg," said Slade.

This year five people made the commitment to go bald, three were from the same family.

Yvonne Blanchette, her brother Raymond Blanchette-Dubé and his wife Paulette went bald for their mother who recently passed away. Although the event had somber roots, participants kept a light-hearted attitude.

"I got a professional hair cut for free," said Paulette as Kut-N-Kurl stylist Tyler Cardinal did a professional job with the shears. "It doesn't happen everyday.

"A lot of people didn't lose their hair by choice and [shaving our hair] was worth it," she added.

Darrel Mitchell was the first person to sign up for the shave. He too has family members who have battled cancer.

"It's close to my heart," said Mitchell. "It's my way of contributing."

The fifth shavee is local radio host Dustin Whitcomb who had his head shaved live earlier in the day.

Since the shave started in Lac La Biche, the event has raised over $45,000. Donations will still be accepted until July 4.