Councillor goes green to benefit wish foundation
Posted Feb 26, 2010 By John Nelson
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Tweet ThisEMC Events A sudden outbreak of hair loss turned into a $5,400 gain for the Make a Wish Foundation of Eastern Ontario during the second annual Metcalfe Massacure recently in the Lions Den.
"I think it went pretty well," said organizer Kim Sheldrick. "Not bad for a two-hour event."
She added that there were fewer victims this year but donations were higher. Participants were given the opportunity to seek sponsors as opposed to losing their locks, with all money raised benefiting the foundation.
The Make a Wish Foundation grants wishes to youngsters with life-threatening medical conditions and those efforts were brought close to home Feb. 6 with the knowledge that funds were being directed toward a local girl. Thirteen-year-old Allie, who was identified only by her first name, suffers from cystic fibrosis and her dream is to meet the cast of the hit movie series Twilight.
"It would be so cool to meet professional actors and, being a huge fan, this would be the perfect opportunity," Allie said in literature posted in the Lions Den.
Osgoode Ward Coun. Doug Thompson got in on the act but couldn't quite bring himself to part with his silver streak. Instead, the councillor agreed to dye his hair and collected $1,100 - including pledges from council colleaguesto go green.
"They won't be able to tell me from a green bin," joked Coun. Thompson as Ms. Sheldrick applied the coloring. "This is one thing (Mayor) Larry O'Brien can't do."
Coun. Thompson vowed to keep the color until at least the Feb. 10 council meeting.
"I didn't want to get it shaved," Coun. Thompson said of his hair. "It's my best feature."
He added that he wanted to support the cause and believed adding a little color to the event was the way to go. Organizer Ms. Sheldrick said she had been trying to get the councillor involved since last year's Massacure and the decision to go green was only made the day before the event.
She added that Coun. Thompson helped attract more attention this year. Ottawa mayoral candidate Jim Watson dropped by, but left with a full head of hair.
Ms. Sheldrick said support for the event came from wide range of sources. In addition to the $1,100 from Coun. Thompson, other "victims" collected $1,300 (including $100 from the Vernon Women's Institute and donations from 1st Osgoode Cubs and 1st Osgoode Beavers), $500 from Shroomfest and $2,500 from the Metcalfe Lions Club.
Participant Cody Neal, 7, said he raised $236 for the cause with the help of mom and her colleagues at work, and was proud of his efforts.
"It's pretty good," he said of his fund-raising total. "It feels good. I like to help."
Cody explained that he has had friends and relatives afflicted with life-threatening illnesses and believed it was important to make things a little better for them.
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