Cochrane Christian Academy (CCA) will be shaving it all off as part of their "Beauty and the Beards" fundraising event on Mar. 21.
CCA child development advisor Joy Lonsdale-Calkins explained that the event is part of one of their “Give Back Projects,” which will be dedicated to Camp Kindle and the Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta.
Although the event is typically called “Rock Your Locks,” Lonsdale-Calkins explained that it involves participants either shaving their head or dying their hair.
“We’re being involved with that, party we’re giving back to people that we know who have lost to cancer,” she said. “I myself have [gone] through that journey this year. So as an adult, I can see the impact of that. I couldn’t imagine being a kid going through that or a child and their family going through that.
“Camp Kindle really provides opportunities to kids or a family member who has a diagnosis of cancer to just enjoy being a kid and enjoy life.”
As the acting beauty for the event, Lonsdale-Calkins said that RCMP officers Epp and Moore will be cast as the "beasts" who will also be shaving their hair. In addition, a few members of the CCA Leadership Team, made up of students between Grade 6 and 8 (with permission from their parents), will be joining the, by colouring their or spray painting their hair.
In terms of sacrificing her locks for a greater cause, Lonsdale-Calkins said it is similar to the faith-based lessons taught in their classrooms.
“It’s interesting because we are a faith-based curriculum and one of the quotes and scriptures of the Bible from Isaiah is – Let there be beauty from the ashes, so let there be goodness come out of difficulty,” Lonsdale-Calkins said. “So, shaving your head, it’s just hair. But what it symbolizes and what it gives back to the community is a really nice way of honouring and giving back to those that are going through something much more difficult that losing hair.”
The end goal of the fundraiser is looking to raise $7,500. At the time of her interview The Eagle, Lonsdale-Calkins said that the school raised around $1,500.
Lonsdale-Calkins adds that she participated in this event 13 years ago, and she looks forward to shaving it all off again.
“I said to my husband; ‘I hope it doesn’t snow on our way to BC because it’s going to be a chilly trip if it keeps snowing and I have no hair,’” Lonsdale-Calkins said with a laugh. “Sometimes people question the whole shaving your hair part. I’m an adult that experienced this journey, and I couldn’t imagine being a kid going though this.
“We want to give back to these kids and their families.”
For anyone looking to make a donation, they can do by visiting www.zeffy.com/peer-to-peer/the-beauty-and-the-beards-2.
