It was a full house at Stone’s Bay Pub for the annual Cops for Cancer fundraiser dinner.
The event, organized by Greg Pichler, was the most successful yet, raising nearly $6,200 to benefit the Canadian Cancer Society and Camp Good Times in Maple Ridge on Loon Lake, for kids with paediatric cancer.
For $20, guests were treated to a delicious steak dinner, complete with cake for desert.
But the real attraction was the entertainment of watching a number of brave souls volunteer to have some of their body hair removed for a good cause.
There was some great lead-up and expectations were high, with some amazing auction-style encouragement by Lars Sabbe to round up some extra funds as the momentum built up.
Rupi Samra of Rupi’s Salon and Studio was the lady with the clippers, shearing off a combined moustache growth of over 100 years.
Rob Garden’s 30-year-old daughter came to see the big unveiling of her father’s face, as the woman had never seen him without his moustache. He said it had been at least 36 years since he had been clean-shaven.
Mayor Rob MacDougall also had not been clean-shaven in over 20 years, and his wife Terri-Lee had also never seen him without his facial hair.
The third Rob on the chopping block was Fire Chief Rob Bennet, and all three managed to raise hundreds of dollars, with Rob Garden raising over $600 before the night began and the crowd then ponying up even more for the final event.
The generosity of the crowd was impressive, and organizer Greg Pichler gave up his moustache, but also convinced his boss Staff Sergeant Paul Thalhofer to lose some hair for the cause.
Not having a moustache, Thalhofer instead had some leg hair removed. His legs were prepped with the help of Beauty By Vengeance’s Jasmine Kendall, but the honour of the final ripping off strips of hair went to those willing to put up a little bit more cash for the cause.
Constable Mark Hilland also had his legs waxed, and had the dubious honour of going first for the night.
Integris’ Credit Union was also there, with Joan Burdeniuk helping to officiate. Integris Credit Union is a major contributor to the Tour de North event, with Integris purchasing new bikes each year for some of the riders.
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