Posted on 09/08/2014 10:35:25 AM PDT by SandRat
SIERRA VISTA — It was standing room only at Regis hair salon Wednesday evening, with a line that stretched out the door.
More than 20 Troop 444 Boy Scouts, along with scout masters, friends and family members, crowded the salon located in the Mall at Sierra Vista for a group head shaving. They were doing it in a show of support for Assistant Scoutmaster Janet Thompson who is undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. And they were doing it for cancer awareness.
All smiles, 12-year-old Dakota Pierce was one of the first in the group to climb onto the stylist’s chair for a shave. Placing his new look in the capable hands of Regis manager Melissa Bennett, Pierce’s smile broadened as he watched his blond hair float to the floor in neat sections. Within minutes, it was all over.
“Any regrets?” an onlooker asked as Pierce, still smiling, gazed in a mirror while running a hand across the stubble.
“Nope.” The response was immediate and matter-of-fact. “I wanted to do this to support Mrs. Thompson and for cancer awareness, so it’s a good cause.”
Along with Bennett, two other Regis beauticians helped with the group shaving. Amanda Robinson and Laura Mauliola also buzzed heads and were full of praise for all those gathered in support of Thompson, who was one of the onlookers at Regis that evening.
“I like my new do,” smiled Scott Lowry, 15. “I think I look beautiful.”
Thompson agreed. “They all look beautiful,” she smiled. “This is so touching.”
The wife of Scoutmaster Kevin Thompson, Janet was diagnosed with breast cancer in April. “I caught it early when I discovered a lump and got it checked right away, so that was good,” she said. “I went through a lumpectomy and now I’m going through chemotherapy. Radiation is next,” Thompson added. “My husband was on a backpacking trip with some of the scouts when I called and told him I would be going through chemo. He immediately said he would shave his head in a show of support for me, and now the whole troop is on board with this. I am very, very touched by the response here tonight.”
As he looked out across the line of people waiting to be shaved, Kevin Thompson said, “I think the support is fantastic. It takes a lot of guts for the boys to do this. Obviously, people are going to notice. I also appreciate the support we’re getting from all the adults here. Even some of the women are doing this.”
Nikki Miscione is one of the women who gave up a full head of shoulder-length hair that night. “We’re donating my hair to Locks of Love,” she said. “So, along with supporting Janet, this is for a good cause. Mostly though, I want Janet to know how much we care and that she’s supported.”
Scout member Justin Lease, 13, said he likes the idea of doing something to help raise cancer awareness. “I’ve already done the ice bucket challenge, so I guess I’m on a roll,” he smiled.
For Gene Spiers, whose son Nicholas is one of the scouts, getting shaved is a great way to support cancer awareness, while getting rid of gray hair.
“This troop is like family and I think the turnout here tonight and the support everyone is showing Janet is proof of that,” said Teresa Pierce, who is Dakota’s mother. “I’m really proud of all the people who are here for this, and I’m glad that Dakota wanted to be part of it.”
Nothing better to heal somebody else’s body than shaving your head.
good for the soul
yeah, makes you self-righteous
Or dumping ice water on your head, or wearing pink on the football field...
What a kind thing for them to do. Baldness would be a vast improvement for a lot of the boys in our troop ... not that I wish cancer on anybody ...
“I like my new do,” smiled Scott Lowry, 15. “I think I look beautiful.”
The BSA sure has change over the last 45 years. It’s impossible to imagine to imagine any of the scouts in my old troop admiring their “do” or preening that they “look beautiful.”
I'm sorry no one ever shaved their head to emotionally support you when you were hurting. And I don't mean actually shaving their head. I mean doing something that, while not directly effective, let you know that they cared that you were suffering and wanted you to get better.
But since it didn't happen, I suggest you recognize that its lack has left a bitterness in your heart that can hurt you. Fight the bitterness by refusing to generalize against the whole world. It's hard, but it must be done if you are to remain sane. Otherwise your bitterness will destroy you. Much is done in ignorance and not evil. Much is done in innocence and not self-righteousness.
Take me, for example. I am consciously refusing to catagorize you as a shill who is seeking to undermine the general view of conservatives as hateful, bitter, heartless people, an instead interpret your words as the result of deep wounds. I'm proud of that - it's not an easy thing for me. Especially when it comes to people who mock a boy scout troop for doing something for a troopmaster who has cancer. So if I can remind myself to treat you as a good person who is hurt, instead of the obvious jackass you seem to be, the least you, in turn, can do is try to live up to your purported humanity.
That troop number, 444, was the same number of the Boy Scout troop I belonged to in Chicago during WWII. The troop was sponsored by the local Catholic church (Immaculate Conception) in a Chicago neighborhood known as Bridgeport. Both have since been shuttered including any Boy Scout association with most churches.
Glad the Arizona Troop gave you Happy Memories.
Wow thats the nicest thing you can come with?
I know. I had to reread it to be sure it said BOY Scouts and not GIRL Scouts.
This is a ping list for cancer survivors and caregivers to share information. If you would like your name added to or removed from this ping list, please tell us in the comments section at this link (click here). (For the most updated list of names, click on the same link and go to the last comment.)
It’s a nice gesture, and these people are kindhearted. But, I have to say, as a survivor who once was bald from chemo myself, I don’t think it’s necessary. (Don’t flame me, anyone - this is just a personal opinion.) I can understand people shaving their heads to show support for a child who’s losing hair to cancer. Because then the child wouldn’t feel so alone. Or... a son supporting his mother by shaving his head, for example.
Otherwise, hold onto your hair, people. Eventually you might be in a similar position losing your hair at some point. Enjoy it while you still have it. :-) JMHO.
My hair is finally starting to get healthy enough to grow again. If it ever gets healthy enough and long enough to be accepted, I want to donate it to Locks of Love. http://www.locksoflove.org/donate.html . I wish I had donated my waist length hair before the chemo, but I was in denial until too much had fallen out to make an acceptable donation. I really really really didn’t want to lose my hair. It’s amazing the things you think are important before, and the things you don’t mind giving up after.
Locks of Love really seems to be a great organization. :-) I know a few people who donate their hair regularly. It’s a great idea - and exactly the kind of thing to do with one’s hair that makes the most sense as a show of support (imho, anyway). From what I’ve heard, they’ll take several inches and leave you with a nice short cut. :-)
BTW, just adding - I was in denial, too, about the hair on my head. I was still hanging onto it when it was falling out and becoming tangled, until half of it was gone. lol I had it shaved off when I couldn’t stand it anymore.
There’s a woman at church every Sunday whose hair is just growing in. I so want to walk up and give her a hug, but I don’t know her. She’s starting to look happier and healthy, too.
I guess it makes everything better
Like wearing a ribbon
Yep, the New Scouts will soon have pink uniforms
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.