A pair of St. James hairstylists are sharpening their shears to raise money and awareness for children with cancer.

On Sat., June 23, Crystal Kardynal and Kirsten Lillie of Hairplay Salon on Ness Avenue will host a haircutting marathon to help raise an ambitious goal of $10,000 for the Childhood Cancer Foundation, based in Toronto.

The duo was inspired by Kardynal’s friend, Karen Whitfield, whose four-year-old son Lance was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, when he was only 23 months.
As a mother of three boys, the cause hits close to home, Kardynal said.

"I’m grateful they’re not sick and it’s my way to give back," she said.

Eight stylists will be participating in the event taking place right outside of the salon, located at 2369 Ness Ave.

Haircuts will be $20 and the target is to cut 300 heads of hair, Kardynal said.

The event will also include a silent auction as well as face painting and clowns for children. Tim Hortons will be there to serve up coffee in the morning and Mac’s will also be serving up 250 Frosters, they said.

Ten children are diagnosed with cancer each day in Canada, and only a sliver of fundraising dollars are directed towards children’s cancer causes, the duo said.

"In every way, shape or form, someone we know will be affected by cancer," Lillie said, noting her two grandmothers are battling the unforgiving disease.

"Whether it’s a family member or a friend or a friend of a friend."

After an intense six months of chemotherapy and radiation treatment, Lance is now in remission, Whitfield said.

But for the Killarney-based family, the response has been touching.

"This is awesome. It’s very difficult to get the word out because it’s so rare and we’re in such a small community," Whitfield said.

"It’s difficult to explain to people and get their attention unless you’re on a one-on-one basis.
"It’s going to be a great day."

Whitfield has already raised more than $8,000 of her $10,000 goal.  But she isn’t stopping there.

Later this summer, Whitfield will be one of three Canadians who will travel south to the U.S. as part of the 46 Mommas Shave for the Brave event.

That event is aiming to raise $1 million for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation and its childhood cancer research programs.

"It’s very important," said Whitfield, who will have her head shaved at the event.

"Unfortunately, so little goes to childhood cancer. It’s so underfunded in the world, so I want to do everything possible to help.

"We want a cure. They always say you need the awareness to get the funding, the funding to do the research and the research to get a cure."

For more information, visit http://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/mypage/565035/2012.

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matt.preprost@canstarnews.com