Kelly Briggs donated the hair from his head. Tom Walton gave from his back and chest.
The pair of employees at St. Joseph’s Hospital were among seven participants at the seventh annual headshave event Thursday that raised a little more than $9,100 for cancer and palliative care.
After introducing the seven, hair stylists and waxers went to work on the two men before a crowd in the hospital lobby.
Briggs, who works in the laboratory, has a stepsister and stepfather who have battled cancer.
“My stepfather had prostate cancer,” said Briggs, a former firefighter with the military who was posted in Comox. He started at the lab in January.
“I do blood draws in chemotherapy. You meet a lot of people in there. You get to know them, and you really appreciate everything that they’re going through and just to show some support for them.”
Silvia Giles, who works in rehab services, donated her locks in memory of three young people she knew who died from cancer. She also has a friend who is battling the disease.
“I think we all think we’re invincible, but cancer can strike anybody at any time,” said Giles, who works in rehab services.
Briggs congratulates everyone in the hospital who has stepped up and supported the cause.
“I’m just a representative of the lab,” he said. “I want to thank everybody. I think it’s an important cause.”
Hospital president/CEO Jane Murphy took Briggs up on a $100 offer to have the stubble cleaned from his head with razor and shaving cream.
The other participants were Claudia Brings (diagnostic imaging), Gerlie Netzel (downtown lab), Denise Sibilleau-Hawkes (maternal child unit) and RN Stacey Trudel.
Past headshaves raised upwards of $80,000, thanks to the efforts of 82 participants.
