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Wednesday February 28, 2001 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER B1 OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR OF THE OAKVILLE WATERFRONT FESTIVAL Focus ft2 0 0 1 : A FASHION ODYSSEY O a k v ille ^ Waterfront F e ittv a ] / ^ * W e launch our Spectacular Spring Line on Thursday. March 1st W itfi designer pieces arriving daily, we have everything you need to look not this spring. Upscale Resale Indies Wear 115 Trafalgar Rd. ijo srN .o fL a k e sh w c )338-34741 OPEN 7 DAYS A W EEK By Consignment... Open Seven Days. Oakville Beaver Focus Editor: WILMA BLOKHUIS 845-3824 Ext: 250; Fax: 337-5567; Email: blokhuis@ haltonsearch.com Photos by Barrie Erskine and Riziero Vertolli The Women's Shave-a-thon, held Sunday at the Bronte Legion, raised $25,000 for children's cancer research. ABOVE, Tara Pocrnic gets shaved by Katie Flemming; CENTRE: Kim Ellis gets shaved by her daughter Victoria as Shiloh Scott looks on; and BOTTOM, Kim Plunkett of Beautiful You is shaved by Katie Flemming and Skye MacDonald. Photos by Barrie Erskine Going bald for a cause, Wilma Blokhuis of the Oakville Beaver gets shaved by Katie Flemming and nine-year-old cancer patient Skye MacDonald, at the Women's Shave-a-thon for childhood cancer research at the Bronte Legion. Baldis beautifulfora cause By Wilma Blokhuis BEAVER FOCUS EDITOR I'm bald. I've been putting off getting a hair cut, so about three weeks ago, when the appeal went out to find women volunteers to get their heads shaved for cancer research, I thought why not? This is something I can do, it's painless, and my hair will grow back. I thought of the cancer patients who lose their hair from chemotherapy. I thought of little Adrienne Robinson, bald for almost a year from the chemotherapy she requires to stop the cancer which has taken her right knee. I met Adrienne for the first time at the Terry Fox Run in September. Adrienne had the same kind of cancer Fox had, but unlike the famous one-legged marathon runner, she did not have to lose her leg. Instead, she had knee replacement surgery. Three weeks ago, we had a story about another little girl with cancer, Skye MacDonald. Turns out I'm best friends with Skye's aunt Heather MacDonald Archer - we've been friends for over 25 years. I called Heather and wanted her opinion. Her immediate reaction was "You're not!" When I explained why I was doing it, to help kids with cancer. Heather was quick to be my first sponsor, followed by her husband Paul Archer, and their twins Alastair and Mary Elizabeth Skye's cousins. I canvassed my co-workers at the Oakville Beaver, City Parent, Forever Young and Premier Consumer Shows, and received tremendous support. I got a call from our sister publication, the Burlington Post, with an offer to col lect some money for me. I called relatives for support, solicited friends with the Bronte Bunch and Oakville Strutters walking groups, and my pub pals at the Coach & Four. Readers and friends came for ward with donations. I raised just under 52.000 on my own for losing my hair. Then, to my absolute surprise, when I arrived at the Bronte Legion, where 14 women were about to have their heads shaved bald - in front of a large cheering crowd - for children's cancer research, I was approached by Nancy Clark of the Eastview School Council. Nancy and Ann Allen of the Eastview Parent Teacher Organization canvassed the school and their friends on my behalf- unbeknownst to me. Skye attends Eastview. "We raised $1,004 for you," she said. "We did this to support you." I was pleasantly surprised and pleased and almost speechless. "It was a plea sure to sponsor you," said Nancy. It brought my total to just shy of S3,000, and to everyone who spon sored me, a big heartfelt thank you. I have never done this before, not even on a dare. I know controversial Irish pop singer Sinead O'Connor made her debut into the music busi ness sporting a bold, bald head. Actress Demi Moore has appeared bald, as has English pop singer Annie Lennox. Erin Davis, morning show co host of CHFI 98.1 had her head shaved bald for cancer research a few years ago, to much publicity and fan fare. As I sit at my computer terminal, proudly displaying my new, bald look, I can't help but think how the Women's Shave-a-thon brings new meaning to the words Beautiful You. The shave-off was organized by Skye's mom, Linda Leatherdale, and Beautiful You, a Bronte hair salon owned by Kim Plunkett. She was among the first to be sheared, showing us that yes, bald is beautiful. The Body Shaping Fitness Studio ForWomen. E nd of Season Dirk Gebhardt Maria Kinlough CLEARANCE All winter COATS · C lo th · Sheepskin · Fur T H E Body Shaping Fitness Studio for Women is a state o f the art facility designed and operated by M aria Kinlough and D irk Gebhardt to enable women to achieve the body shape that they have always wanted and didn't think possible. 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