Shave for the Brave News
The kids are better than alright
Posted on May 20, 2010
Shaver Christian Legge proudly displays his amount raised for the Shave for the Brave.
Shaver Brenda Wells with mom, Elaine Wells, brother (and shaver) Brandon Wells and a Woodford’s hair stylist.
Shave organizer (and former shaver) Lindsay Dwyer presenting cheque to YACC Event Coordinator, Janine Wilson.
We at Young Adult Cancer Canada are wrapping up another very successful Shave for the Brave. We set new records for heads shaved, 998, and dollars raised, $311,000.
Part of the wrap-up process is reviewing the event delivery and reports highlighting everything from revenue to Shaver participation. As I checked out the results from our demographic survey done prior to registering for the Shave at the Avalon Mall held on Saturday, March 6, this year, I was moved to share some of the insights of that and other reports.
First, don't believe the hype about the next generation being lost, lazy and lacking motivation. Just because they have different interests and different motivations than previous generations does not mean they are lacking motivation.
The 2010 Shave for the Brave was comprised of 32 separate shave events held in offices, schools and malls in Newfoundland and Labrador, Alberta, Nova Scotia, and Ontario. 62% of those 998 heads shaved this year were 20 years of age or less for a total of 615 shavers.
These 615 shavers made this huge sacrifice to support young adults with cancer; many did it in honor or in memory of a loved one touched by cancer. They did this at a time in their life when their appearance is subject to daily scrutiny by peers and when the judgment by those peers can be crushing to their self-esteem.
Christian Legge, a nine year old student at MacDonald Drive Elementary shaved for the fourth time raising over $3300 this year, his best effort yet. Brenda Wells, a grade eight student at Frank Roberts Junior High, shaved in honor of her dad who passed away when she was just 20 months old. She out-did her big brother Brandon, who shaved last year, by raising more than $1,000.
Lindsay Dwyer, a Shaver in 2009, redirected her energy this year by organizing a Shave for the Brave at her school, Beaconsfield Junior High, where they shaved 26 heads and raised almost $5,000.
These are a few of the young people who took a risk, volunteered their time, and made a commitment to something much bigger than themselves. The young adults we support every day will see the benefit.
On behalf of the brave young adults we serve we say thank you to all Shavers, Head Hunters, donors and sponsors, and especially to the younger Shavers for being better than alright.
Always... Live life. Love life.
Geoff
