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LLI GOLINE/NORMAN WELLS - When Russell Manuel and Benji Louison found out their close friend Louis Edgi was going to lose his hair during treatment for cancer they made him a promise.

Russell Manuel, left, and Benji Louison of Norman Wells shaved their heads in a show of support to their good friend Louis Edgi who is currently undergoing treatment for a brain tumor. - photo courtesy of Russell Manuel

"He was telling us about the treatment and we made a deal with him that when he started the treatment we would shave our heads in support," explains Manuel. The deal was made at Edgi's stag party, before his marriage on Aug. 1 - his best friend Manuel's fifth wedding anniversary.

He said he grew up with Edgi in Fort Good Hope, although the men now live in Norman Wells. Edgi is "a person I looked up to as a kid. He was one of my role models," said Manuel.

Last Thursday Manuel and Louison headed to the Perm N' Frost salon in Norman Wells, where staff cut the men's hair.

"It's not cheap to get a hair cut up here," joked Manuel.

Louison said that he shaved his head because he wanted to be able to show support for Edgi and so he wouldn't feel "out of place."

"We were good friends growing up," said Louison, adding his father John was also going to shave his head.

Edgi's friend Dean Stewart of Tulita also shaved his head, according to Manuel, and all members of the Yamogun hockey team in Fort Good Hope planned to do the same.

Edgi, a plant operator with Imperial Oil, is currently in Edmonton where he is receiving radiation for a brain tumour until Sept. 20.

"We're here. We're always going to be here," Louison said. "Friends are friends, brothers are brothers."