March 20,  2009



On Sunday afternoon, March 15, two dozen Hatteras Island residents, some a bit scraggly, headed to the Avon Fire House for a free haircut. For many, it was the first trim they had had in a long time, and every participant left the fire house with a clean shaven head.

But the purpose of this gathering wasn’t to make Hatteras Island a better looking community. The shavees and the people behind the event were celebrating St. Baldrick’s Day, a national event that has grown roots and popularity on Hatteras Island.

St. Baldrick’s Day was started nine years ago to recognize and generate donations for children with cancer. The shaved heads serve as a reminder of children who have had to undergo chemotherapy and have lost all of their hair. Starting as an informal conversation between friends, the event quickly grew in its short lifespan and is now celebrated annually in 18 different countries.

Locally, the event started very much the same way. Jennifer Harmon, owner of Avon Surf Shop, first heard of St. Baldrick’s after a chat with her friends, Ray and Tina Chandler, and Warren “Tater” Gaskins III, who had made a trek to Norfolk to participate in the event.

“After I heard about it, I looked it up and saw anyone could host an event, and I knew that we could get other people involved,” says Harmon.

This is Avon Surf Shop’s third year sponsoring the event, with help from treasurers Tina Chandler and Jenn Auguston, and it was thrown in honor of Chandler’s 9-year-old daughter Madeline, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor at the age of 3.

Early on, there were implications that the event would be a success.  It became clear that because of the word-of-mouth popularity, the mass shearing would have to be moved from the surf shop, where it had been held the previous two years, to a bigger venue.

“It was catching on more,” says Harmon. “We talked to more people this year and it definitely seemed like a lot more people were going to come.”

On the day of the event, there was a collection of seasoned shavees, such as Tater who celebrated his sixth year, and Jeff Ziggler, who shaved his head and beard for the cause.

“For a few locals, like my husband and son, this is their annual haircut,” says Harmon.

But there were some surprising new participants as well.

Ray Gray, principal of the Cape Hatteras Elementary School, claimed that if he could get enough sponsors, he would shave his head at St. Baldrick’s. He received an astounding $900 in donations and a subsequent new haircut.

“He was a big part of our success,” says Harmon.

With help from Spa Koru’s Chloe Sapecki who volunteered to do the haircuts, the event garnered 24 shaved heads and three ponytails donated to Locks of Love, an organization that makes wigs for children with cancer. This was a new record. For the past two years, the event had 17 shavees.

More rewarding, however, is that the event raised an estimated $2,000, double the donations of the previous two years.

“This has been wonderful. We’re very pleased,” says Harmon.

For a complete tally, folks can visit the official St. Baldrick's Day Foundation Web site (http://www.stbaldricks.org) and click on the Avon location to see exactly how much was raised.

In the meantime, don’t be alarmed if you see an unusual number of bald heads roaming around the island. Chances are these are participants in a very worthy cause that’s raising awareness of childhood cancer to the folks of Hatteras Island and around the world.

Click Here To View Slide Show

Comments are always welcomed!      Subject :      Name :  (required)      Email :  (required, will not be published)      City :   (required)    State :   (required)      Your Comments: May be posted on the Letters to the Editor page at the discretion of the editor.