When it comes to fighting cancer, sometimes big gestures are best. Last week, Elmira Pet Products employee Charlie DeVore raised $1,370 from friends and coworkers for cancer charity with a simple promise: he would cut his hair in front of the entire company.
“Who doesn’t know somebody who’s had cancer or died of cancer?” said DeVore, whose $1,370 fundraising total was matched by Elmira Pet Products’ owner and CEO. “This year, I decided my hair was getting a little long and people were getting ticked with it, so I said, ‘I’m just gonna cut it off.’”
DeVore was raising money for last Saturday’s “BBB8 Barnburner” (that stands for “Bald Breasts Bands”), an annual event held by his Elmira neighbours to raise money for cancer charities. The Foell family has been throwing a yearly barnburner party since 2006, after mother Lois Foell was diagnosed with breast cancer. The third, in 2008, was intended to be the final one, but after Lois passed away, the family decided to turn the party into a fundraiser for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.
“I’m motivated by the community’s desire to get involved and help out for such a cause,” said Alanna Foell, Lois’ daughter, who along with her brother organizes the annual event. “Everyone has been affected by cancer in one way or another so everyone can relate. Each year I can’t wait to see how we can improve our performances, raise more money and throw a memorable party that is for a good cause.”
At the BBB8 BarnBurner, music was played, hair was cut off, and around $10,000 was raised for CBCF and the Grand River Hospital Foundation. (Some $80,000 has been raised over the event’s existence).
“Since someone you know has likely been affected by cancer and will be doing treatments at a place like Grand River, you could feel good about giving back to the community, since we donate directly to the GRHF,” said Alanna Foell.
More information about the Foells’ initiatives can be found at facebook.com/BBB.barnburner and www.baldbreastsbands.tumblr.com.
