Lake City Secondary students kicked off their Operation Sasquatch, Cops for Cancer challenge last week collectively raising $750 in the first week, says teacher Ryan Hanley.
After two years in the growing stage Hanley’s hair is now past the required minimum of eight inches in length to be cut and made into a wig for a cancer patient that has lost their hair during treatment.
Hanley was inspired to grow his hair after seeing LCSS teacher Loyd Csizmadia grow and have his hair cut in a cancer fundraising challenge a few years ago.
Hanley also took on a second challenge to also grow his beard, hence the nickname Operation Sasquatch.
Hanley is the LCSS Grade 8-9 English, Social Studies, year book and leadership teacher at the Columneetza Campus.
He says the goal is to raise $2,500 between the Columneetza and Williams Lake campuses if each student is able to donate a toonie or whatever amount they can afford.
The challenge runs until Dec. 4 with the added twist that the campus raising the most money will have the fun of watching the hairdresser cut his hair.
The individual class that raises the most money will have the vote on whether Hanley will be shaved bald (beard and all) or whether he will get to keep some of the hair on his head and his beard until Christmas.
The hair cutting ceremony is set for Friday, Dec. 11 at whichever campus wins the challenge.
Each class has a collection envelop for donations.
Three of Hanley’s Columneetza students submitted the first toonie donations last week to kick off the fundraiser.
“It is a good cause,” Sheldon Callinghan said as he deposited his toonie. “They send kids with cancer to camp. My uncle was diagnosed with cancer when he was really young and didn’t get to do the things that other kids got to do.” Because of research he says his uncle lived into adulthood, passing away when he was a lot older.
“It is a really good fundraiser, “ Dale Van Kuipers added. “My mom is recovered from cervical cancer.”
Mark Johnson said his great grandmother died of cancer and agreed the fundraiser is for a good cause. “You can give as much as you want. Whatever you can afford.”
Hanley says anyone in the community can also participate in the fundraiser by going to the Canadian Cancer Society B.C. Branch site and searching his name, Ryan Hanley: or going to
http://bit.ly/RyanHanleyHaircut
“All of the money raised will go through Cops for Cancer to the Canadian Cancer Society B.C. Branch,” Hanley says.