So, most people are pretty surprised when they see me with my hair down; few people realize how much stinkin’ hair I have.  24 inches, to be exact (I measured).

As of this Saturday, that will be halved.  Roughly.  I’ve been growing my hair out for about 10 years ever since an unfortunate boy haircut experiment.  I love having long hair, but, really, what’s the point when you’re always throwing it in a braid or a ponytail to avoid eating it, breathing it, finding it in your toothpaste, or having it obscure your vision or whip around into the photo frame on windy days? 

So, it’s time.  I’m giving it the chop.  But, I want it to mean something beyond pointless vanity.  So I’m donating my hair to Locks of Love, a nonprofit that provides wigs for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.  I’m also raising money for the local “Shave for a Cure” event this Saturday.

(No, I do not have the guts to go bald. Period.  End of story.  So no asking.)

With that in mind, I’m collecting pledges for the hair-splitting the proceeds of which will be split evenly between St. Baldrick’s Foundation and Keeping You, Me, and Memories Alive, a Plymouth-based organization that provides aid and support to residents of Central New Hampshire who are coping with cancer and family members who have lost one or more loved ones to cancer.

It’s really not about me.  This is for the people who aren’t here anymore, but it’s also for the people who’ve fought and made it through cancer.  It’s also for everyone who’s supported someone with cancer, and for those left behind.

If you’re in the Plymouth area and would like to pledge, message me, and I’ll work out how to meet you.  If you’re further afield and would like to contribute, I'm going to have to refer you to the St. Baldrick's team page.  I had grandiose plans for a PayPal "Donate" button here, but damn-the-men, PayPal and Google Sites evidently won't play nice together.  (Hey, I tried.) 

St. Baldrick's has an online donation form on their site, and when I figure out how to do it (please stay tuned), your contributions will go into the pool of money being raised by the Brother Dave's Builders team for this event here in Campton as well as another in Gilford in June (at this late hour, I'm not quite sure how it works, but it's a great organization all the same).  Alternatively, you can donate to "Keeping, You, Me, and Memories Alive"--just scroll to the Donate Now button near the bottom of the page.  If you'd simply do me the favor of letting me know you pledged, I'd appreciate it (so's I can give you some love in the future).

Thanks, yinz guys.  Even if it's just a "you can do it," it means a lot.