For the rest of the winter, William and Thomas Bain along with their friend, Wyatt McCormick, 10, might find it a tad colder, but it is something they are willing to endure to help people in their battle with cancer.
On Feb. 24, the three, as Team Colton, travelled to West Edmonton Mall’s Ice Palace to join more than 2,000 others to shave off all their hair as part of the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation and the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s fundraiser, Hair Massacure. The charity also uses the hair it collects and donates it to an organization which makes wigs for children who have lost their own due to illness.
For the last three years William Bain, 9, has participated in the annual fundraising event to honour his great-grandfather and an aunt who passed away from cancer. Last year, he was joined by his younger brother, Thomas, now five years old, as part of the Pink Bain Brothers.
This year, in September, Wyatt, 10, joined the brothers, and the trio rebranded themselves as Team Colton, in honour of his older brother who will be turning 14 soon, and shortly after making the commitment, was diagnosed with cancer.
Although Team Colton was formed in September, their fundraising effort didn’t really take flight until January when the boys dyed their hair pink. Participants in Hair Massacure fundraisers are asked to dye their hair pink as a sign of solidarity and as a way to draw attention to the fundraiser.
“Usually my dad dyes our hair, but this year my mother did it,” William said, adding she didn’t quite have the knack for it. “This time I really didn’t like it because it stung, but when it came to having my hair shaved off everything was fine and I wasn’t very nervous.”
Wyatt said when the time came to have his head shaved, he thought he would be more nervous than he actually was.
“I was actually more excited than anything,” he said. “To know I was doing something that would help people and support my brother. He can’t do all the things he used to do and I want to help him get better so he can have all the fun he used to have.”
William added, after participants have their head shaved they are given Hair Massacure swag that includes a toque, neck warmer and a teddy bear, which the boys gave to Wyatt’s mom who will give them to cancer patients at the Stollery.
So far Team Colton has raised $1,615 with the majority coming through their Hair Massacure online pledge page. Barrhead Composite High School also contributed towards the fundraising efforts through the school’s Movember campaign (Barrhead Leader, Dec.6).
Wyatt and William are also encouraging other young people to get involved in the fundraising effort.
“It’s important to care for yourself, but it is just as important to care and have respect for other people and to remember that there are people that aren’t doing so well,” Wyatt said.
William agreed, adding it is also more fun to do it as a group, saying although he was glad to do the Hair Massacure by himself, he found it more satisfying as part of a team.
“I know I found it more fun to do it with my little brother and my best friend,” he said.
And as for how Colton is doing, Wyatt said he responded well to his last round of treatment and, as a result, will be coming home sooner than expected.
For those interested in donating to the Team Colton campaign, visit www.hairmassacure.com and click Northern Alberta. From there, click on ‘I want to Donate’ and select ‘Pledge a Participant’ and type in ‘Colton’.
A bowling fundraiser event will also be taking place at the Blue Heron Bowl on March 11 for Team Colton starting at 8 p.m. Registration, through Leon’s Carpet and Paint, is $20 per bowler, with teams of up to six players being accepted. A trust fund to help Colton’s family pay for his associated medical expenses has been set up at the Barrhead Nova Scotia bank under the name of Trisha Enman and Colton McCormick.
