INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Under the stage lights at Capt. Hiram’s Sand Bar, they perched atop stools, green sheets wrapped around their necks, protecting their chests and laps. With the steady buzz of electric shavers, clumps of hair spilled to the floor, eliciting grimaces or smiles from the nearly 200 participants who signed on to be part of Indian River County’s inaugural St. Baldrick’s Foundation Shave-a-thon.
Among those to have their heads shorn of hair were representatives from the Board of County Commissioners, the Sebastian City Council, the police departments of both Sebastian and Vero Beach, and public safety officers from Indian River Shores.
Each of the 171 participants raised money for their teams to be a part of the nationwide fund-raiser, which supports pediatric cancer research efforts. Though organizers had hoped to raise their $50,000 goal, it became apparent before the event even started that the goal would be crushed. Before the final tally, the event’s website displayed a funds raised amount of more than $68,000.
Frank “Cookie” Mannino was all smiles as the shave-a-thon continued Saturday afternoon, noting that his latest estimate was closer to $100,000.
“That’s unbelievable,” he said, of the first-time event.
Part of the fund-raiser’s success had to do with the community’s support, according to Cookie, pointing to Capt. Hiram’s owner Mickey Capp.
Capp essentially gave the St. Baldrick’s Foundation free-reign of the Sand Bar all Saturday – and gave up his hair at the same time.
“I’m OK with it,” he said of going bald for children’s cancer research, adding that he knew his was not going to be the best-looking hairless head.
Capp was sat on the center stool, where he waited for his long-time friend Dave Courage to start the shaving. Courage brought a large pair of rusty shears with him, teasing Capp.
“I can’t tell you how excited I am” to do this, Courage said of attacking Capp’s hair. In the end, though, he bowed out, calling Capp’s wife, daughter and granddaughter up to do the honors.
“He’ll get me back,” Courage said, explaining why he stepped down.
Representing the Sebastian City Council were Mayor Bob McPartlan and City Council members Andrea Coy and Jim Hill.
Coy, Wednesday night, told those attending the council meeting that she was going to buy back her hair for $200 because she had an upcoming job interview. Unless she received $500 in donations, she was not going to have her head shaved.
By early Saturday afternoon, Coy was counting up the last of her donations – $595 – she would have to go through with it.
“It’s not life threatening for me,” Coy said of lopping off her tresses, explaining that one day she might have to undergo cancer treatment and lose her hair – then this would just be practice.
“My head is cold,” Hill said shortly after retreating from the stage. When asked if he would keep the new look, he quickly replied in the negative.
McPartlan agreed, adding that he would, however, participate again next year.
As to whether he would grow his hair out for the entire year until the next fundraiser, McPartlan said, “I can’t do that.”
Three of the five County Commissioners, along with their county administrator and county attorney, raised funds for the non-profit.
“I’ve got to admit, the only one who looks different is Commissioner (Joe) Flescher,” said fellow Commissioner Wesley Davis.
Davis said he couldn’t participate in the head-shaving because he had to narrate – he’d be too animated and get nicked by the razor.
“Besides, my wife said ‘no’,” he said.
“It feels great,” Commissioner Peter O’Bryan said of the shave. Prior to Saturday’s event, he had his hair dyed neon green to raise awareness.
“I got a lot of positive responses,” he said, adding that the colorful hair led many people to approach him, leading him to talk about St. Baldrick’s.
Chris Beaumont, of Indian River Shores Public Safety, was one of three from the agency to participate in the shave-a-thon.
“I was more than happy to jump in,” he said of raising money for pediatric cancer research. He said he wasn’t concerned that his co-workers would harass him for going bald prematurely.
“Everybody’s gonna back me,” he said.
Both the Sebastian and Vero Beach police departments sent officers up to the stage.
“We’ve got a little anxiety,” Vero Beach Officer John Morrison said. Though typically seen with short-cropped hair, he’s never been bald before.
The department had five officers participate, raising its goal of $2,500 by reaching out to friends and family and receiving contributions from anonymous donors, Officer Morrison said.
While it wasn’t a competition, the Sebastian Police Department put together a team of 28 officers – more than half the police force in the city – and raised more than $8,000. Part of those funds came from officers who opted to pay $1 daily to sport a beard rather than have their heads shaved.
“It’s weird,” said 7 ½-year-old Madison, looking over her dad’s new ‘do. “It kind of surprised me.”
She told her dad, Cpl. Ron Carlson, that the top of his head now looks small and the bottom of his head looks big.
The corporal said he wasn’t sure if he’d keep the bald look going.
“It feels good,” he said. “I don’t know; we’ll see.”
