Having brunette hair, pink hair and then going bald in just a few weeks doesn’t seem that bad for one nine-year-old from Penhold.
After all, it’s for a good cause according to Jessica Mariner.
On Saturday, she had her dyed pink hair shaved off during Red Deer’s second annual Hair Massacure at Bower Place Shopping Centre.
As part of the deal to lop off her locks, she raised $500 for Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation in Edmonton, the Make-A-Wish Foundation for Northern Alberta and Ronald McDonald Foundation of Northern Alberta.
Jessica wanted to take part after her older sister Ry-Lee did the same in 2010, raising $735.
Kim Mariner said the event holds deep meaning. Jessica’s great-grandfather died a month after she was born.
“He meant something to the whole family,” said Kim, tears welling up in her eyes.
Touching people’s lives is what this event is all about.
Darcy Ouellet, marketing manager for Red Deer’s Costco, started the event after being impressed with the Edmonton fundraiser launched in 2003. Last year, more than 1,500 participants in Edmonton raised more than $1 million.
He’s optimistic Central Alberta’s event could grow to this magnitude as well.
“I would love to see (us raise) $1 million and am totally prepared to keep going until we do that,” said Ouellet, his cropped hair dyed neon pink.
The first Hair Massacure in Red Deer raised just under $36,000 last year with more than 250 participants. A preliminary tally for this year’s event is anticipated early this week.
Dayne Dickson, stylist/receptionist at Katz Meow, said she took part because “I love children and would do anything to support them.
Nine salons in the Red Deer area helped turn people’s hair pink prior to Saturday’s event. Some people had their long hair cut a few inches so it could be donated to Alfred’s Hair in Edmonton, which then sends the hair overseas to be made into wigs. The wigs are then returned for Alberta children to use.
Nicki Wohland, project co-ordinator for Hair Massacure in Edmonton, said the money helps children with a life-threatening illness to go to Disneyland or have other Make a Wishes come true. Four labs doing pediatric research at Stollery Children’s Hospital also benefit greatly from the money.
For the first time, Ronald McDonald House for Northern Alberta is benefiting. Wohland said next year’s fundraiser in Red Deer will benefit Red Deer’s Ronald McDonald House, which is expected to open this fall for families with critically ill children, sick children and high-risk pregnancies.
Kali MacDonald, 12, of Edmonton said she was pleased the fundraiser has expanded to Red Deer. Her father started the event, originally called St. Valentine’s Day Hair Massacure, after she was diagnosed with leukemia as a toddler.
Her mother Tammy MacDonald said the event reaches a wide-ranging demographic, from two-month-olds to 78-year-olds.
“The pink hair is the significant trademark and that’s a big hit for a lot of the kids,” she said.
Save-On-Foods sells “Kali” pink dye for hair. Ronald McDonald House receives proceeds from paper Kali Bears sold in various McDonalds restaurants. MC Marvel College in Red Deer will dye people’s hair for a small charge, giving back the proceeds to the event.
ltester@www.reddeeradvocate.com