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A gold mine of hair

Heather Lange
Northern News Services
Published Friday, August 19, 2011

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A month and a half after shaving off his hair, Alex Arychuk is growing his hair to his normal short length, but people around town are once again asking him to grow his hair out to raise money for different causes.

NNSL photo/graphic

Alex Arychuk looks pretty shaggy on June 18, two weeks before getting his hair cut off to raise money for two Yellowknife memorial funds. - photo courtesy of Chris Johnston

Close to half a kilogram of hair was sheared from Arychuk's head at the Northern Flair Beauty Salon on June 25, after he grew out his mane for more than 16 months to raise funds for two memorial funds.

As well as raising money, the hair was donated to be made into a wig for cancer patients who lose their own while undergoing treatment.

Arychuk and Arctic Farmer co-owner Darwin Rudkevitch got the idea by attending a Yellowknife Community Foundation event in February 2010, when Rudkevitch, whose business focuses on gardening, started bragging that he could grow anything in town better than most. Arychuk disputed this.

"I told him I am a better grower because I can grow things he can't. I told him I could grow a wig and that is how it got started," said Arychuk.

For 16 months, Arychuk didn't get a haircut and started to ask family and friends to sponsor him to raise money for two memorial funds that are administered by the Yellowknife Community Foundation.

"I decided to do (the fundraising) on my own and when I told Darwin about it, he started it all off with donating $1,500 from Arctic Farmer, and then I proceeded to raise $6,000. The idea was conceived at the Yellowknife Community Foundation event, so I figured they should get the money," said Arychuk.

Arychuk has a personal connection with both memorial funds which are receiving the donations.

"The first one is the Pat McMahon Memorial Fund. I've known Pat during her career as mayor and she gave me my five-year and 10-year service pin for being a volunteer firefighter. I'm also donating to the Mary Beth Miller Memorial Scholarship because her brother worked with me and I know her whole family. I just want to make sure they have the money to award the memorial funds," said Arychuk.

The Pat McMahon fund was established to assist female individuals who demonstrate community leadership in Yellowknife municipal affairs; the Mary Beth Miller fund - named after a promising, young Yellowknife biathlete who died in 2000 supports pursuits in outdoor athletic activities.

Arychuk did get some comments about his ever-increasing shaggy appearance.

"People thought I was going crazy. In the 40 years I've been in Yellowknife, I've never had long hair. Even my Grade 12 teacher came up and asked if I was OK," said Arychuk.

Arychuk said without his friends and family donating, there would be little to celebrate.

"There is no story without them ... Raising the funds was secondary to the amount of fun I've had bugging Darwin over the past year and a half," said Arychuk.

Darrell Vikse, president of the Yellowknife Community Foundation was thrilled to receive the donation from Arychuk for the memorial funds.

"I think it is remarkable for this fellow to grow his hair like that and to take up contributions. He has got a strong community spirit," said Vikse.

Will Arychuk follow through with requests to once again grow out his locks?

"He has been humming and hawing about it but I can't say for sure," said his wife, Sheila.

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