Paula White
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jun 04/99) - The latest effort to raise funds for cancer research will be a hair-raising experience for most of those involved.

Hair-raising because those doing the fund-raising will actually lose their hair on June 18.

"Whatever you have on the 18th of June, be prepared to lose it," said Inuvik RCMP Const. Dan Martin, who is co-ordinating the fund-raiser, Cops For Cancer.

From now until June 18, some members of the detachment, along with some guardroom staff, members of the fire department and a couple of businesspeople, will be canvassing homes and businesses for pledges.

Cpl. Maureen Levy in Aklavik and Cpl. Rob Frame in Paulatuk are also taking part. Levy, Martin said, will travel to Inuvik for the head-shaving, but Frame will lose his hair either in Paulatuk or Yellowknife. There are a total of 32 people taking part in the fund-raiser -- the first time it is being held in Inuvik.

"It's really taken off," Martin said. "Community support is phenomenal."

And Martin has the cash to prove it. He said in the first two days of canvassing, he and another individual raised almost $2,000. Their goal is $5,000. Martin added most of those involved in the fund-raising have committed to shaving their heads.

"We're shaving our heads in support of (cancer) patients who lose their hair in a more difficult way," Martin explained. "It's a sign of support for them, I guess."

There are a few of those taking part in the fund-raiser, however, who will keep their hair.

"One of the members is getting married shortly after, so she declined and that is understandable," Martin commented. "Shaving your head isn't for everybody."

Cops For Cancer got its start in 1994. Sgt. Gary Goulet, a member of the RCMP in Alberta, invited a five-year-old boy named Lyle, who had been stricken with cancer and lost his hair as a result of chemotherapy treatments, to have his picture taken in a police cruiser. When six other police officers heard of this, they wanted to shave their heads to be in the photo as well. The story received national attention and the fund-raising campaign took off from there.

"People have a lot of laughs with it and we have fun with it," Martin said. He added, however, that while the actual head-shaving is all in fun, the reason for it is anything but.

"I think there's a personal story behind every one of these people (taking pledges)," Martin said. "Whether it be mom, dad, husband, wife, children, close friends...it's affected all of us. I have a very, very close friend whose wife died of breast cancer...two years ago and left behind three small children.

"My best friend's mom and dad died of cancer," Martin continued. "We all have a story to tell and my pledges are for them."

The Close Shave Event, as it is known, takes place at SAM school at 7 p.m. It is being held in conjunction with Midnight Madness. Martin said the staff at Shear Delight have donated their time and clippers to be the official head-shavers for the event.

"So come out and support us," he said. "We're not asking for big bucks from anybody. A $10 donation is $10 more than what we had when we started."