Cancer survivors sheer first responders
Owen Hart, 4, of Cape Coral, gets to sit in a South Trail Fire District engine during the fifth-annual “Clips for Cancer” event Friday at Great Clips in Fort Myers. Hart rang the bell Thursday to signify being cancer free.
CHUCK BALLARO
Life hasn’t always been fun for McKynsie Jones of Lehigh Acres.
McKynsie was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia just before her fourth birthday and had to go through the full rash of treatment for it, which included hair loss.
Now 11, and cancer free for five years, she had the opportunity to help the hospital that helped her, by being one of several pediatric cancer survivors to shave the head of a first responder. In her case, the police chief of Sanibel.
Some of Southwest Florida’s finest gathered at Great Clips in Fort Myers to raise money and awareness at the fifth-annual “Clips for Cancer” event by having their heads shaved and raise money for Barbara’s Friends, the Golisano Children’s Hospital’s Cancer Fund.
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, where local community leaders will allow pediatric cancer survivors to shave their heads for awareness of the effects of cancer treatment, which often includes hair loss.
Amy Frith, senior director of Barbara’s Friends, said the fund makes sure that no child is ever denied care when they need treatment, therapy and other resources for children and families.
“If there’s a family that loses a job or can’t make a rent payment, we help with those necessities so the family can stay on their feet,” Frith said. “We want the parents to make sure they focus on their child and not worry how to make ends meet.”
Clips for Cancer raises the funds necessary to ensure that programs and services are available for the increasing number of local children diagnosed with cancer at Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida.
The goal this year is to raise $500,000, with roughly half raised during this month, Frith said, adding that half the money has been spent in the last three months, meaning the money is spent faster than they raise it on family assistance.
Among those who participated was Bill Dalton, Sanibel Police Chief, who was taking part for the third time and let his hair grow a bit for the occasion. For Dalton, it was a family matter.
“I lost my brother to cancer. My mother-in-law and sister are both cancer survivors. So, considering what someone with cancer goes through, a haircut like this is really nothing,” Dalton said. “Every time I get to do this, I get to meet a new friend and I met one today,”
Maury Morejon, Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District, has done this event from the beginning, when he was the only firefighter to take part. Unlike Dalton, he was completely shorn.
“It’s great to see the brothers and sisters supporting the same cause. It’s good to see the growth and the difference we can make together,” Morejon said. “Being a firefighter is something you do even off duty and giving back to the community. Being a father, it was important to help these kids going through so much.”
The survivors had fun giving everyone a close shave. Jones said it was fun to be able to do it for the third straight year.
“If it helps raise money for Golisano’s, I’d be happy to do it. Amy asked me to do it. It’s hard getting the hair off, but it’s fun, too,” Jones said.
The youngest survivor was Owen Hart, 4, of Cape Coral, who was diagnosed at age 2 with leukemia and who rang the bell on Thursday, signaling the end of cancer and no evidence of the disease.
Amy Burgh, Owen’s mother, said it was exciting for him and emotional for her to be able to cut the hair of a firefighter.
“It’s different when it’s the voluntary removal of hair. We didn’t choose to lose that hair. It went away,” Burgh said. “Now, we’re going to try to find a new normal. Thankfully, he’s young enough to not realize the gravity of his situation. I hope he does very soon.”
To reach CHUCK BALLARO, please email news@breezenewspapers.com