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Monday, Mar 19, 2007 - 12:00 AM
BY D.S. TYSON
BRISTOL HERALD COURIER
BRISTOL, Va – Be sure to wear sunglasses if walking near the fire station on Lee Street.
On Saturday, 10 Bristol firefighters shaved their heads to raise funds for The St. Baldrick’s Foundation, an organization seeking to conquer children’s cancer by research and fellowship.
"Firefighters have a soft spot for kids," firefighter Brian Witcher said, holding his two-year-old son Jacob, who also sported the "Kojak" look.
Two weeks ago, a Johnson City firefighter asked the Bristol crew to take part as a response to a co-worker who lost his 12-year-old daughter to cancer.
After hearing that story, "It was kind of a joking, ‘I dare you to do it’ – ‘No, I dare you to do it’ situation. But there was very little reluctance. Firefighters will do anything for kids," said Witcher who, along with Sgt. Jim Ross, volunteers every year at a burn camp for children.
On Saturday evening, the group hung around the Lee Street station, ribbing each other about the new look.
"They didn’t have much to shave on him," one firefighter joked with a co-worker.
"Ooh, look, it has green tea extract and aloe," another said of cream to sooth freshly shaved heads.
Firefighter Chase Carrier has lost three aunts and an uncle to cancer and this was a way to remember them.
"I’ll shave [his head] again next year, but I’ll let it grow out until then," he said rubbing his right hand over his head.
William Mominee, the Johnson City firefighter who spearheaded the fundraiser, said the goal was to shave ten firefighters and raise $1,000. By the end of Saturday, nearly 40 firefighters from Johnson City and Bristol raised more than $8,000.
"We have always been involved in [the American Cancer Society’s] Walk for Life, but when [the death of the co-worker’s daughter] happened we knew we had to fight childhood cancer," Mominee said. "The amount we raised is tremendous."
Since St. Baldrick’s started the fundraiser in 1999, events have taken place in 10 countries and 42 U.S. states, raising $20 million and shaving more than 26,000 heads.
Its Web site says the idea to shave heads was suggested because most children typically lose their hair during cancer treatment.
"This will become an annual event for us," said Witcher.
The Bristol firefighters who participated were Daryl Loudy, Earl Morphew, Steve Leonard, Mike Wise, Todd Gentry, Jeff Quillen, Rich Simpson, George Scott, Carrier and Witcher.
http://www.tricities.com/tristate/tri/news.apx.-content-articles-TRI-2007-03-19-0012.html
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