Again this year, Planet Head Day at UMPI’s Wieden Hall opened its doors to help raise funds for C-A-N-C-E-R, so the volunteer-driven organization could help those recently diagnosed with cancer and who are in treatment for cancer.
Kevin McCartney and Jeanie McGowan worked hard helping to make this year’s fundraiser and the celebration of NASA’s voyager New Horizons mission to Pluto a complete success. McCartney not only had his head shaved, but showed us all that Pluto’s colors have changed and are different than they were last year.
Planet Head Day is one of the best ways to really get to know the planets that surround us. McGowan set the stage for planets to be launched and organized the room arrangements the best we’ve ever had.
The weather outside didn’t stop anyone from coming. Wieden Hall was once again the scene of planets floating around, happy faces on the young and old, showing off the planets they chose to adopt and everyone had a great sense of knowing they were part of helping so many neighbors they didn’t even know. Missy, a knitter from Merchants On The Corner, was present again this year arriving with over 50 handmade hats to give to those that had their heads shaved. Thanks to all those special knitters who made those hats to be donated.
Some came rushing into Wieden Hall anxious to deliver the donations they had collected and then find a chair to wait their turn to have their heads either shaved or be there for those that were having their heads shaved. It was a supportive gallery of neighbors from all around just wanting to let those that were having their heads shaved know they were proud of them. Some said, “Next year, for sure I’m fund raising and having my head shaved too. What a feeling this is.”
Knights of Columbus representing each church in the Precious Blood Parish brought donations and had their heads shaved. They helped raise funds from 12 different churches, in place of Father Jean-Paul Labrie who is in Rome right now. Hopefully Fr. Labrie will be back with us next year and again help with the fund raising and have his head shaved. Even Pastor Ernie Farrar came from Grant Memorial Methodist Church to have his head shaved and become a planet head. It was great having members of their churches present too.
The craft tables we had set up really were a joy to watch. The young of our county all gathered and explored the many items they could use to make a piece of artwork, like a frame, a poster, decorating a baggie, etc. It was so special watching them speaking to one another as they had the fun of creating something. Some left what they made so we could add them to our Bread of Life bags that were going to be delivered that following Tuesday. How special it was for some of those items to be found in a Bread of Life bag with the homemade goodies as a surprise.
Some painted, some joked and told stories, some ate pizza, popcorn, and others walked around and joined in a conversation. It truly became a social this year. Thanks to generous donors there was free pizza and a popcorn machine with all the goodies that go with it. There was also bottled water and a delicious cake.
Fred Lyford, a volunteer from TAMC was voted to become the planet Saturn from the completion of planets the hospital held. Saturn seems to be a favorite …. I think it’s the crown that encircles the head. Along with Lyford were three Fredettes, becoming other planets to keep him company.
All the staff from WAGM who were with us this year had their heads capped and had their favorite planet painted on. Everyone loved getting to know them socially, not just as our WAGM TV news team. Ted Shapiro again was Planet Head Day emcee and did one wonderful job as usual. He’s just the man for the job, announcing totals … putting in interesting information about the weather, the planets, or just being Ted. Andrew Hunt a student from UMPI was with us again this year and also helped Ted emcee. He’s did a super job which helped make it an interesting time.
Last year’s youngest planet head Jaksen Dionne was with us again, now he’s 20 months old. Jaksen again became a planet but this time he had a good time wandering around making friends. This year a “new planet to be” arrived with Heather Harvell being the planet-to-be carrier. I don’t know who decided, but Saturn became the planet of choice and Saturn’s crown encircled the baby-to-be. Denise Theriault did the planet painting artwork, as everyone cheered her on. I wish we could have known just what Heather’s baby-to-be was thinking? We are all waiting for Heather’s baby to debut at Planet Head Day 2015.
This year we had over 10 head painters to help keep up with the extra crowd. Even Hadley McLean was helping shaving heads … and painting them too. It’s amazing to watch each planet get developed as the brushes were working from the paint to the heads. Adam Swanson came with his adorable dog Oscar, who made sure everyone knew he was not going to be a planet head. He stood guard as Adam and his friend Anne Johnson turned caps and shaved heads into planets.
The local merchants helped make this Planet Head Day special too by allowing us to offer door prizes to the lucky winners that was there and the 50/50 was again offered … as it’s seems to be a favorite. And, thanks again this year to Lynwood Winslow for being there supplying picture posters to all those that had their heads become a planet. A million thanks go out to Frank Grant for all his work recording the event as a video … and then placing it on YouTube for us all to enjoy and share.
We are overwhelmed, grateful and so happy to announce $20,000 was raised this year. The C-A-N-C-E-R board joins me in telling everyone that helped raise funds, gave donations, especially the many volunteers that helped us at Planet Head Day how grateful we are. Knowing how difficult a time we are all having, it was such a hug in the heart to know we are all still trying to be there for each other — neighbor to neighbor. It’s so good to be able to say, “Every penny will remain here so we can help those we know about that were recently diagnosed or are in treatment for cancer.”
If anyone still wants to send in a donation in memory or in honor of someone they love, please make your check out to C-A-N-C-E-R, mark it PHD and mail it to PO Box 811 Presque Isle Me 04769.
I’m hoping to see you at next year’s Planet Head Day to make new friends and new memories. I am personally taking this opportunity to thank everyone that answered my call for help, because without you our fund raising would not have been this successful.
Editor’s note: Louise Calabrese is chairwoman for C-A-N-C-E-R, Caring Area Neighbors for Cancer Education and Recovery. For more information call 764-0766.
