It's become a Squamish tradition to spot strangely bald-headed locals walking the streets each spring, and each pasty-white scalp marks a warm-hearted individual hoping to bring relief to a child suffering from cancer.
For the past 10 years, residents have collected pledges and lined up dozens deep to get their heads shaved during Balding for Dollars, which raises funds for the BC Children's Hospital oncology ward while proclaiming "bald is beautiful."
Organizers Cindy Turner and Cheryl Gordon launched the annual event in 2000 while both their sons battled cancer, and with both teenaged boys now healthy, they hope to pass on the torch to others.
"The timing is right to end it now, if somebody else wants to take it on," said Turner.
In 1996, Bryan Gordon was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer at the age of four. A few years later, Turner's son Nicholas Gulycz was diagnosed at the age of seven.
Both families struggled in virtual isolation with the heavy burdens money and stress, not to mention the months spent commuting to and staying in the hospital.
"You're asked to put your life on hold. You can't ever leave your kids," said Cheryl.
The moms came upon the idea of launching a local faction of the province-wide annual fundraiser, Balding for Life to bring awareness to the community, and the response was tremendous, said Turner, as everyone from local leaders and RCMP to average folks came out to shave and hand over tens of thousands of dollars.
"It was wonderful," said Turner. "You didn't feel so alone and you had all these people backing you up and it felt good."
Ten years and an estimated $300,000 fundraised later, the boys are healthy and about to graduate from Howe Sound Secondary.
Bryan and Nicholas are now introspective 17-years-olds with clear plans for the future. Nicholas will be studying acting at University of British Columbia while Bryan will take trades courses to contribute to his family's carpet laying business as "something to fall back on" before studying psychology.
Bryan said studying psychology appealed to him because he wants to learn how childhood experiences form people.
Neither teen goes so far as to say battling cancer as children formed their personalities, but when asked, they each have a surprisingly positive spin on their life-threatening experiences, from bursary and scholarship opportunities to how it's shaped their outlook on life
"Having cancer definitely teaches you to be positive," said Bryan. "I can handle [difficult situations] a lot better because I've already been down that road, and it's like 'At least I'm not there.' I can always really be happy."
Nicholas agreed.
"When you're in a tough situation it gives you the thought of: 'Well I've been in worse. I almost died,'" he said. "And it helps you make good like choices. It's like 'I don't want to end up like I did.'"
Since the boys' focus have shifted to fulfilling future goals, the families have decided to hang their organizers' hats after this year's event, and they hope that others will step up to take their place.
"Our children are all healthy and moving on to adult clinics now so we don't have anything do with Children's [Hospital] anymore," said Turner.
The event not only raises funds, but helps local parents with sick kids find resources they would otherwise be unaware of. And the illness among children is more pervasive than many people realize, said Cheryl.
"Seems that every year a kid in Squamish is diagnosed [with cancer]," she said. "And you're so enclosed in your problems you don't think to ask for help. So we always let people in Squamish know what [help] is available."
Nicholas and Bryan said they're sure to return to town for the event, should it continue. Their fondest memories, they said, was seeing all the child-friendly activities, like the Balloon-a-rama, return each year.
"It just reminds us of" said Nicholas, hesitating before Bryan said, "happiness."
Balding for Dollars returns May 15 at the Squamish Adventure Centre from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Organizers sent out a pledge sheet in The Chief's flyer pack last week or pick one up at The Chief's office on Second Avenue.
Registration can be done online at www.baldingfordollars.com. For more information, contact Cindy Turner at 604 892-3142 or [email protected].
