For a good cause

Times Reporter

 

Every year CIBC bank hosts their Run For a Cure, targeting breast cancer, and this year in Strathmore a few residents decided to do more to contribute. Nicole Lemoine works at the CIBC Strathmore. In the past she has shaved her head for different groups, and she has taken part in the Run For a Cure in previous years. This year when she volunteered to shave her head for the run, it got a few other staff members thinking. 

They knew Bruce Warrack’s wife Gwen was a cancer survivor and Warrack has been a customer of the bank since 1978. The staff hassled him to shave his head at the same time. At first he said no, then he stopped to think and then started thinking about Gwen and decided he should but not to raise $2,500. 

“I like a challenge so I put a challenge out there that if I could raise $20,000 I would also put $5,000 in,” said Warrack. 

 While the thoughts may have started with Gwen, Warrack said he was doing it for everybody. 

“This is for breast cancer but I’m thinking in terms for all cancers too. This is just a little different spin on it, it’s just a way to raise money for technology.” 

When they shave their heads for cancer many people get a buzz cut, but few go fully bald these days. Warrack wanted to have it all gone if he was going to shave his head. 

“When Gwen had chemotherapy all her hair went right straight off, so I think that this is better to have it right off. I never thought of it anyway but.” 

Warrack said that in his own mind, he has pledged his Canada pension money to go towards cancer technology. 

“What we know today is only 20 per cent of what we’re going to know in 20 years, but it’s going to take money,” said Warrack.

Onlookers and staff gathered in CIBC on September 29 to enjoy cookies and pink lemonade and watch both Warrack and Lemoine lose their hair.  

Melanie Archibald was the hairdresser for the day. Archibald lost her father to cancer last year and she shaved their heads as a show of support, and because she is friends with Lemoine. The first shave, though, went to George Jackson, who was the highest contributor that was able to make it to the event. Between Warrack and Lemoine approximately $31,000 was raised for breast cancer research.