After years of wanting to shave her head for cancer awareness, Westminster College student Brier Skogsberg finally went bald Wednesday night inside the Coulter Science Center surrounded by her collegiate classmates.
Leaf Spurling, a hairstylist with Jewel Salon and Spa, braided Skogsberg's hair in three sections, cut them and then used a hair trimmer to take care of the rest at the college's Brave A Shave event. The braided 10-inch sections of Skogsberg's straight brown locks will go to the Pantene Beautiful Lengths program and, eventually, a woman battling cancer who has lost her hair.
"You're going to make someone a very happy woman," Spurling said to Skogsberg while trimming the final sections of her new do.
"I hope so," Skogsberg said with a smile.
Skogsberg kicked off her cancer awareness and fundraising campaign in October. Donations received through an online fundraising site will go to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Skogsberg said she's been fortunate to watch her little sister grow happy and healthy, and wants to see the same for all children. She referenced the words of St. Jude founder Danny Thomas: "No child should die in the dawn of life."
With the goal of $1,000, Skogsberg surpassed her goal, raising $1,545 as of 9 p.m. Wednesday.
"It makes me so happy to know people have big hearts to give to people they don't even know," she said.
Shaving her head was always very important to Skogsberg, who said signals a message while being tangible.
"I want people to know you can give something of yourself for others ... Just knowing my hair is going to help (a woman battling cancer) face another day," she said.
Skogsberg approached the Westminster College Campus Activities Board with the idea to host a head shaving event when she went bald and the group extended the idea to the campus. Five students - one female and four male - joined Skogsberg for the Brave A Shave event Wednesday night.
One of those was Nathan Kaag, a senior who lost his mother to breast cancer nine years ago. Money he raises will go to Susan G. Komen For The Cure.
"My mom walked around with a bald head for two to three years so I can do it for a couple months," he said.
Kaag's mother was diagnosed in 2001 and fought for four years, beating the disesase once. Throughout her battle, Kaag said his mom managed to care for he and his older brother and sister.
"To this day, my mom is my hero," he said. "I try to do things I know would make her proud."
Christian Moulton, a senior, is also fundraising for breast cancer research. His head shaving and fundraiser are in honor of his grandmother and great aunt. His grandmother was first diagnosed with breast cancer, and then her sister-in-law (Moulton's great aunt) was struck with the same diagnosis. They battled together. Moulton's grandmother survived and his great aunt passed.
Moulton had been growing his hair out since Sept. 28, 2013 and his beard since August this year. He surpassed his $500 goal right before the event with help from his college football and high school football coaches and friends.
"Every little bit counts," he said.
Freshman Victoria Reyes also had someone in mind as her hair fell to the floor: a nine-year-old girl named Savannha, the daughter of Reyes' sister's best friend. Savannah has fought Choroid Plexus, a rare cancer, for seven years - since she was two. Reyes said doctors have exhausted all radiation and chemotherapy treatment options and Savannha is now in hospice care, but she continues to be a happy, funny little girl who loves watching Spongebob Squarepants.
"She's always smiling," Reyes said.
Senior Hossam Hashish found himself in a familiar place as he sat in the hairstylist's chair. He participated in Brave A Shave his freshman and sophomore years and raised a total of $600 in his college career. Hashish said he's fortunate that cancer has never touched his family, but he still felt obligated to join the cause.
"You don't have to be affected by something to help out," Hashish said.
Dalton O'Donnell said seeing the commitment Skogsberg has for this cause was contagious.
"The goal is to help others out, to save lives," he said.