Shave to Save 2008 raises $45,745

By Richard Wills, Publications Editor

Proceeds from the Selwyn House Shave to Save campaign continue to roll in, with the total now at $45,745, more than double last year’s amount.

Funds raised from October 24 event, which go to the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation, have increased dramatically each year since the school’s first Shave to Save in 2005.

This year, five students and two teachers raised the required minimum of $2,000 in pledges for the honour of being sheared for the cause. Charles Boisvert (Grade 10), Timothy Hadjis (Gr. 11), Joey Zammit (Gr. 9), Pierre Emond (Gr. 9), Colin Fitzpatrick (Gr. 10), and Senior School teachers Ryan Curry and Bruce Maxwell all put their heads on the chopping block.

Radio station Mix-96 organizes the fundraiser every year in the Montreal area. On-air personalities Murray Sherriffs, Lisa Player and Kat Spencer, along with producer Tom Buddo were on hand at Selwyn House to act as MCs for the cutting event, which always draws an enthusiastic crowd of students and parents to the Macaulay gym. Mix-96 aired sound clips and interviews afterwards, and published photos to their website.

The shaving was performed by two stylists from La Coupe hair salons, with Alex Hadjis and Ana Maria Zammit helping clip their brothers’ heads.

Charles Boisvert’s mother, Nathalie LeProhon—herself a cancer survivor—spoke to the crowd as a representative of the Quebec Cancer Foundation, thanking all who took part.

“It is rare to not find someone in today’s world who does not know someone who has been affected by cancer,” said Bruce Maxwell afterward. “When I was growing up, my next-door neighbor who was a good friend of my sister died of cancer at age 24.”

“It is great that the school takes this cause so seriously,” Mr. Maxwell added.

“I have two friends whose mothers have had breast cancer,” said Mr. Curry, “one who beat it and the other who passed away at the end of September. I felt that my hair was the least I could give in order to ease the suffering of individuals affected by cancer.”

"I have been extremely fortunate not to have lost anyone to this disease,” said Timothy Hadjis. “With this in mind, I wanted to make sure that the women in my life—my mother, my grandmothers, my aunts, and my cousins—stay breast-cancer free for the rest of their lives."

“I got involved in Shave to Save because in the past five months, three people close to me have been diagnosed with cancer: my uncle, my cousin, and a close family friend,” said Colin Fitzpatrick. “They are all recovering now, but at the beginning of this, some of them weren't doing very well.”

“The aunt of a friend of mine had cancer,” explained Joey Zammit. “Also, I've always wanted to take part in Shave to Save because, when I first saw it in Grade 7, I thought it was really cool that they were doing that for cancer research, so I decided to do it this year.”

Last year my classmate Jeremy Micheletti participated in Shave to Save, and right away I wanted to do it too,” says Pierre Emond. “After that, I started growing my hair to try to make it the longest of all the people shaving their heads. I thought it would be a good idea since the whole point is to symbolize cancer patients who are forced to lose all of their hair without exception when they go through Chemotherapy.”

The first Shave to Save at Selwyn House was organized by Tim Charron of the Class of 2006.