A lot off the top: Residents lose hair for cancer-research fundraiser

“You don’t say ‘no’ to the kiddoes,” Jackson School District superintendent John Link said, while getting his head shaved to support the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, which funds children’s cancer research.

One of nine shavees who participated at Old Orchard CrossFit gym in Jackson, Link observed he was “feeling the abuse right now” but reasoned he would save money on shampoo.

“All I’m going to say is, ‘Prop J. Vote yes!’” he said, referring to the April school bond-issue referendum.

Andrea Allstun organized the event that raised $11,034.65. She had her head shaved in 2015 to raise money for St. Baldrick’s, noting she had three healthy children.

“Childhood cancer research is very underfunded,” she said.

Terri Bogues reacts as April Whiteside shaves her head on Saturday during the St. Baldrick's Foundation fundraiser at Old Orchard CrossFit in Jackson.Laura Simon

Jennifer Singleton, whose daughter, Sarah, is a childhood-cancer survivor, contacted Allstun.

“I think I want to shave my head,” she told Allstun. “Would you think about doing an event with me?”

“Sure,” Allstun said, adding they hope it will become an annual event. She said they have an event page online still open for donations, Jackson MO Goes Bald, at stbaldricks.org.

Singleton’s son, Justin, earned a month free from doing household chores by raising $200 for the cause, an incentive from his mother.

“I also had goals,” Singleton said, adding her friends had more money than her son’s friends.

Cathy Klaus smiles as she holds up her hair on Saturday during the St. Baldrick's Foundation fundraiser at Old Orchard CrossFit in Jackson.Laura Simon

“For every $400 I raised, he has to spend an hour a week with just me for a month. I found that people were pretty sympathetic about me wanting to spend time with my 16-year-old son,” she said.

Sitting in a barber’s chair, Cathy Klaus invited anyone to shear off a braid of her hair for a donation. Six people from the gathering stepped up to contribute and do the honors.

April Whiteside and Jean McLane wielded the clippers side-by-side for six more shavees. Then the two joined forces for the finale.

David Mincemeyer, who provided the gym for the event, decided a couple of weeks ago he also would become a shavee. He had much to lose: hair, mustache and beard.

The dueling shavers took their time on top, gradually producing a “Mohawk” with a pause for pictures.

Jackson school superintendent John Link reacts as April Whiteside shaves his head on Saturday during the St. Baldrick's Foundation fundraiser at Old Orchard CrossFit in Jackson.Laura Simon

Next came the beard. They mowed a path under Mincemeyer’s mouth.

In a couple of minutes, the beard was gone.

“He’s got a chin,” one observed.

The mustache didn’t last long.

flynch@semissourian.com

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