A total of $5,500 was raised over the last month between the two businesses for their respective charities, but Shoppers Drug Mart came out on top, raising $3,700 for Weekend to End Women's Cancers, with Home Hardware raising a respectable $1,800 for Ride For Dad.
Despite the weather, a sizable crowd gathered in Centennial Park to watch the spectacle of about a dozen participants receiving head-shaves on Saturday June 18 at the culminating fundraising event.
“My goal was (to raise) $5,000, and we ran that over,” said pharmacy assistant Maureen Harper of Shoppers.
“They had an unbelievable response – I commend them,” said Debbie Desnoyer, who ran Home Hardware's portion of the contest.
Patty Hawley's decision to shave her head was an emotional one, but one that came with resolve.
“My mom died of cancer. My uncle died of cancer,” said Hawley, Home Hardware's head cashier.
“It felt like something I needed to do, not something I wanted to do, if that makes any sense.”
Desnoyer said she was very proud of their staff that took part.
“For our head cashier to do that, that was pretty nervy.”
Harper's three children, Bailey and Dakota (twins, 10), and J.D., 7, are sporting Mohawks with their mom until they shave their heads together on June 24.
“We lost Dean's mom to lung cancer six years ago, and both his grandfathers had prostate cancer,” said Harper.
“I think that's why it's struck home with my kids.”
“Ten to 15 years ago, no one talked about breast cancer. It was kind of taboo. That's kind of where we are today with prostate cancer. No guy wants to go and have the finger test,” said Harper.
“If this is caught early, it's so treatable. There is a simple blood test for it.”
Desnoyer also commented that many patrons were surprised they were fundraising for prostate cancer.
Harper maintains that shaving her head isn't a big deal.
“We definitely want to do it again next year.”
Plans to run the contest again next year are already underway
Though the official contest between the two stores is over, Home Hardware continued to raise funds until Saturday, when the Ride For Dad event occurred.
“A big thank you to Kelly Adolph of Kelly's Barber Shop & Salon for coming to cut off our ponies and shaving everybody else's head,” said Harper.
WEWC day will happen in August, at which time Shoppers will present the money raised to its charity.
