From only a bookmark, PJ Tatano had the idea that people should shave their heads.
Tatano said the idea for No Hair, Don’t Care originated from a bookmark with Josh Sundquist, a paralympic skier who went through chemotherapy. On the bookmark, there is a picture of Sundquist bald from the chemotherapy and all his friends who shaved their heads for him, Tatano said. The word friendship was written across it, Tatano said.
And so, he decided to organize No Hair, Don’t Care, which will be held today from 3 to 7 p.m. at Evolve Studio, 326 W. Beaver Ave. For $10 — all of which will be donated to the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon — the attendees will have their heads shaved by stylists to show support for children with pediatric cancer and will be given a No Hair, Don’t Care headband.
Tatano is involved in a Rules and Regulations committee and the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences THON committee. The money earned by No Hair, Don’t Care will be split between both the committee and the organization, Tatano said.
The idea came to Tatano (freshman-petroleum engineering) over winter break, and when he got back to school, he had the plan approved by THON Information Network, Tatano said.
THON Family Relations Chair of the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences Annie Tamalavage said she was inspired by Tatano’s passion for THON, even though he has not attended yet. The idea of everyone being united shows the core value of THON, Tamalavage (senior-geobiology) said.
“In my eyes, it was just a brilliant idea,” she said.
Though the idea of shaving heads is not new, shaving heads to raise money for THON is original, THON Chair of College of Earth and Mineral Sciences Sarah Bademan said. If people are planning on shaving their heads for THON, going to the No Hair, Don’t Care event will just be an extra step to benefit THON, Bademan (senior-energy engineering) said.
No Hair, Don’t Care is not only about raising money for THON, it is also about the support and statement that the shaved head will make for the children, Tatano said.
“I know how much it means to patients to have hair,” Bademan said. “Students willingly shaving their head shows open support.”
During one of his THON meetings, the group watched an inspirational movie about children going through chemotherapy, Tatano said. He said he saw the impact that losing hair had on the children.
“For someone that young, [losing hair] is awful,” Tatano said.
Tamalavage said the loss of hair shows the actual physical struggle of cancer, and people do not realize the significance that hair has for chemotherapy patients.
THON 2002 dancer and owner of Evolve Studio Lauren Vaught donated the Evolve Salon location for No Hair, Don’t Care, even though the salon is normally closed on Mondays, Vaught said. Four to six stylists will be available to shave the heads of the participants, Vaught said.
Being involved with No Hair, Don’t Care was a “no-brainer,” Vaught said. Vaught grew up locally and lived across from a Four Diamonds Fund child, so she said she wants to help THON any way she can.
Vaught said No Hair, Don’t Care is a fun way for the men to get involved in THON, because a majority can’t participate in Wigs For Kids.
The expected turnout is about 20 men, mostly from the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, Tatano said. Bademan said this year’s goal is to bring awareness of the event and get people excited, so next year will be bigger.
Men’s basketball coach Patrick Chambers has already shaved his head for No Hair, Don’t Care, Tatano said.
