SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The Raven Pub has raised more than $32,000 to fight cancer after a former owner of the bar succumbed to the disease last month.

The pub was packed on June 19 as people went up on stage to get their hair cut at the Laugh, Dance, Shave for the Cure fundraiser to support the Canadian Cancer Society.

"It was a great success," said Robin Sproule, one of the 11 people who collected pledges to shave their heads.

A donations chart showed $16,000 had been raised at the beginning of the night. The amount doubled by the end of the evening.

"Our goal was $20,000. We raised over $32,000," said Sproule. The final amount was $32,281.

As well as the 11 who collected pledges, 25 other people also had their heads shaved, and donations were made at the event through a 50/50 draw, food, and by buying cancer bracelets.

"My hair's actually growing back, just in a week," Sproule commented on her shaved head. "I'm lucky I guess."

The co-owner of the pub, Jacquie Fontana, died from cancer on June 3 just a couple weeks before the event. The emotion involved in the fundraising effort definitely tugged at the crowd's heartstrings. Sproule, a good friend of Fontana's, said the woman's daughters raised "$3,600 in like five minutes because people wanted them to go up."

"It's just too bad she wasn't here to see it, especially to see her daughters get their heads shaved," said Sproule, laughing with a tinge of sadness.

Those who collected pledges included current and former employees, friends of the family, and people who just wanted to help out.

"I really want to thank everyone for the amount and coming out and supporting the event. I also want to give a big thanks to the Euphora Hair Spa. They had three hair stylists come out and they cut everyone's hair that night," said Sproule.