Young Adult Cancer Canada - Shave for the Brave - News

Your daily dose of inspiration

2009-08-31T18:37:08Z

~ Be the change you wish to see in the world ~
Gandhi

Although this quote can be used often in the non-profit world – I love what it says. Luckily, in my job, I get to interact daily with individuals whose lives personify this quote. Whether it be my fabulous co-workers, one of our young adult survivor friends, or one of our generous donors – I get to see the good in so many people. Today, I will share the story of one of these wonderful groups of people whose kind and generous actions are admirable and inspirational, and definitely worth sharing.

A couple of months back, I received an email from Nathalie in Edmonton. She shared with me that she had a friend who had been diagnosed with cancer, and was facing one of chemotherapy’s side effects, hair loss. Nathalie reported that her friend was devastated with the prospect of losing her hair, on top of dealing with everything that accompanied her cancer diagnosis. What Nathalie said next particularly struck me, “I want to show her that beauty is not on the outside, but on the inside, and that hair does not make the person.” Now, although this is something that all of us have been told, and even truly believe, few of us take it to the next step. Nathalie then said that she intended to shave her head, and raise money for Young Adult Cancer Canada in the process. She even recruited two other co-workers, François and Bertha, to join her in shaving their heads and raising funds for Young Adult Cancer Canada.

Well, the big day was July 27th and, true to their word, Nathalie, Francois and Bertha shaved their heads. In addition to showing their friend the meaning of true beauty, they also raised over $3,000 for Young Adult Cancer Canada – very impressive indeed! So, on behalf of the Young Adult Cancer Canada team, I extend a world of thanks to Nathalie, François, and Bertha, for their willingness to raise funds to assist young adults with cancer in Canada, for their compassionate support of their friend, and, above all, for their bold act of inspiration.

THANK YOU! Videos from the 2009 Shave

2009-08-24T18:14:46Z

To everyone who shaved, donated, volunteered, or was otherwise involved with this year’s Shave for the Brave event, we wanted to send out one last THANK YOU! If you were able to attend our Wrap-Up Reception you’ve already seen versions of these videos. If not, here’s your chance! Better late than never, right?

Shave For the Brave 2009 Video #1: An overview of this year’s event and past participation totals. We had our best turn out yet!

Shave For the Brave 2009 Video #2: How your support helps us and young adults dealing with cancer in Canada.

Hope to see you all again next year! Happy growing…

Village Community Shave Photos

2009-06-24T19:05:24Z

Andrew Edwards grabbed some shots at the Village Shopping Centre Shave for the Brave, see them on Flickr: one, two, three, four.

Thank you Shavers! Thank you Sponsors!

2009-06-08T19:29:27Z

Yesterday, we incorporated a new event into our Shave for the Brave(SFTB), our Shave for the Brave Thank You reception. It was a way that we could thank all of the shavers and sponsors for their involvement and commitment.

Being new to Young Adult Cancer Canada, and having not been a part of the Shave for the Brave event itself, I could truly see the enthusiasm and feel the energy in the room. The yellow Shave for the Brave hats and the many short, spiky hairstyles were obvious tip offs as to those in the crowd who were this year’s shavers. There were those who shaved with others from their school, those who shaved with fellow employees in their organizations/businesses, as well as those who shaved on their own, in memory or in honor of a friend or loved one. Through the words of Renee Bennett, a survivor and member of the Young Adult Cancer Canada family, those in the crowd were able to put a name and a face to the real reason behind the SFTB, and all of the great things YACC is able to accomplish through the participation and generosity of our shavers, our sponsors, and the community.

As with everything in life, the ability to incorporate a little humor is always important. Local comedian, John Sheehan, certainly took care of that. His comedic perspective on many aspects of life, particularly life here on the Rock, had us laughing out loud! Presentations were made to the school with the highest overall participation, Holy Spirit High School (14% of student body participated in SFTB!), as well as the school that raised the most funds, Mount Pearl Intermediate (over $9000!). Patricia Butler received an award for the most funds raised, over $9,000. Very impressive indeed!

So, if you were there – thanks so much for coming. We hope to have all of you back again to shave, and to celebrate next year. On behalf of everyone here at YACC, our thanks to Beth Cranston, our Communications guru, for pulling it all together. I have big shoes to fill for next year’s event!

NEWS RELEASE - Shave for the Brave Thank You Reception

2009-06-08T16:47:03Z

NEWS RELEASE

Shave for the Brave Honours Top Participants
For Immediate Release

June 8, 2009, St. John’s, NL - On Sunday, June 7, Young Adult Cancer Canada celebrated its most successful Shave for the Brave event to date with a reception to honour top participants in this year’s campaign.

More than 825 participants shaved their heads in this year’s record-breaking fundraiser in support of young adults facing cancer challenges and raised over $191,000 for losing their luscious locks.

“We’re so pleased with our achievements for this year’s Shave for the Brave campaign,” says Geoff Eaton, founder of Young Adult Cancer Canada. “It’s very touching that so many community members came together to show support for the brave young women and men facing cancer challenges. We’re particularly impressed this year by the outstanding contributions of our top participating school-group and individual participants.”

The top participating school award was given to Holy Spirit High School, of Conception Bay South, where 103 students (14 per cent of the entire school body) shaved for the cause. Mount Pearl Intermediate won the plaque for most funds raised by a school - over $9,000. Community member Patricia Butler, of Bauline, received a certificate for top funds raised by an individual - over $4,000. A special thanks goes out to these top participants.

Shave for the Brave began in 2006 and has raised over $422,000 since its inception to support much needed programs for young adult cancer survivors. Young Adult Cancer Canada is committed to building an independent and sustainable cancer resource that provides information, inspiration and support to young adults facing cancer challenges. For more information, visit http://www.youngadultcancer.ca/.

Presenting sponsors for the event were HITS FM and TD Canada Trust. Supporting Sponsors for the event were the Village Shopping Centre, The Telegram, Woodford Training Salon, and East Coast Beauty.

Shave Party with Comedian John Sheehan!

2009-05-14T18:26:32Z

Come shavers, come wig donors, come volunteers, come sponsors! If you were at all involved with this year’s Shave for the Brave, whether it was at the main community event at the Village Mall in St. John’s or at one of the many schools, businesses and other communities who put off their own Shaves in support of YACC, we want to THANK YOU!

On Sunday, June 7th from 3:00pm-4:30pm we will be holding a Reception to thank all of you who helped make this the most successful Shave for the Brave to date! Local comedian John Sheehan will perform and there will be some special presentations. Not to mention “eats”!

Technically the RSVP deadline is tomorrow, Friday, May 15 by 5:00pm. However, I am posting this late so please don’t hesitate to contact me at beth@youngadultcancer.ca or 709-579-7325 (877-571-7325 toll free) to inquire as to availability as I’m sure we’ll still be sending some tickets out after tomorrow as well. Hopefully I’ve already reached most of you well before now by email!

So please consider attending this special event. There would be two tickets for each participant to bring along a friend or family member. And if you were a shaver, don’t forget your toque!

The Shave for the Brave has reached 800 Heads!

2009-04-13T15:18:06Z

Well…actually… 803 to be exact! And the numbers are still growing! With shaves happening throughout April and May the number of bald (and beautiful) heads in Newfoundland are on the rise!

A big THANK YOU to all the shavers, supporters, organizers, volunteers, donors, sponsors and everyone involved (at every level)! This has been a huge success and we couldn’t have done it without all of you!

Don’t forget, there is still time to get involved – email us at if you want to have a shave in your school, business, community or on your own!

UPDATE: The Bald Heads Are Growing!

2009-03-27T18:59:14Z

Wow! What a great week here at YACC!
The Shave is still growing with a whopping 758 heads shaved to date!
Thanks to all shavers, supporters, donors, sponsors, and all involved.
But don’t think that this is the end! We are shaving through March and into April, so connect with us and we can get you bald!

Village Shave Clips

2009-03-23T16:27:44Z

Shave for the Brave 2009 from Duncan de Young on Vimeo.

These are some clips from the community Shave for the Brave at the Village Shopping Centre. It’s the first time I’ve ever shot some video (I’m a stills guy), and, you’ll probably want to kill the audio when listening to this, the monaural mic in the 5D II isn’t the greatest… A great day however… thanks to everyone who came out!

Update

2009-03-19T18:08:16Z

Hello all of you shavers and donors!

We hope that you are all enjoying your new, shorter do’s!
It has been a crazy and wonderful ride since March 7th at the Village, as it didn’t stop there!

We are still having shaves at schools and businesses throughout March and April and the numbers are growing! We are approaching the 1,000 mark, with over 620 heads shaved to date and over $150,000 raised and counting!

We wanted to send a big shout out to you to say THANK YOU! Your involvement truly makes a difference in the lives of the young adults we exist to serve.

We will keep you updated on the growing number of bald (and beautiful) heads in the province of NL, and remember. if you are not bald yet you still have time to shave and be as cool as your balder buddies, we are having shaves through March and April!