One of the clearest indications of the march of time is the march of my hairline into oblivion.
While the mind still sees the twenty-something gleefully burning both ends of the same candle, the man in the mirror daily provides the inevitable proof that time indeed waits for no one.
So imagine my interest in hearing about a local campaign called “Bald is Beautiful.”
I’m going beautiful?
The campaign is a fundraiser for the Iroquois School District. The money is being used to support the family of Victoria Boriety, a seventh grade student diagnosed with leukemia.
Victoria has returned to school following her cancer treatments with her head wrapped in a bandana.
Students throw in loose change after buying lunch and attend various events. For added momentum teachers and administrators have agreed to shave their heads in solidarity for every $5,000 dollars raised.
I’m not sure if they expected the response they received, but so far more than $11,000 has been raised by the smallest student body in Erie County.
The high school supports fewer than 700 students.
Principal Brian Uplinger was the latest adult meeting the shaver.
“We’re glad to do it,” Uplinger said, doing his best “Mr. Clean” impersonation.
But the real genius in this has nothing to do with the substantial outpouring of financial support.
As the father of two pre-teen daughters, I can verify that tops on the to-do list for girls that age is to fit in. Anything that makes you stand out or look different is eventually fodder for ridicule.
Both of my daughters would rather spend the day with dad cutting grass than offer themselves up to that level of scrutiny.
The brilliance of the campaign is that it makes what could be seen as different cool, even chic.
Victoria and other children battling illness have enough on the plate without worrying about how the disease will affect their self esteem or how others will view them.
The “Bald is Beautiful” campaign is doing more than raising dollars; it is raising spirits.
Even mine.
Haven’t you heard? I’m going beautiful!
HEY! Fixing our comment section is still a pretty hairy situation. If you want to lay out the bald facts, send me an email at scott.bremner@wsee.tv. Write "Comments" in the subject line so I don't miss it, and I promise to post them after mine, and I'll try not to cut them or shave them down, either.