This past weekend the 18th annual Brayden Ottenbreit Close Cuts for Cancer held its highlight head-shaving event at the Parkland Mall in the city.
The annual event has become a tradition of spring, something amazing emerging with the passing of winter, which is something of a metaphor to Brayden’s own untimely passing, and what good was able to come out of that sadness.
It is unlikely Brayden’s family ever dreamed of what the event would become when his dad Greg, and a handful of others cut their hair off as a show of support for Brayden who had lost his hair in his fight with cancer. That simple show of support raised a modest $15,000, which went to research for children’s cancer.
Two years later Brayden would pass, and Greg and Leone would question whether to continue the head-shaving effort.
Thanks to some gentle persuasion by friends and the Canadian Cancer Society they went ahead with a third event, and that led to a fourth, fifth and on to this year’s 18th.
While initially focusing on raising money for research into cancer affecting youth, Close Cuts has evolved.
Cancer, while seeming somehow more tragic when it hits youth with their whole lives in front of them, hits people of all ages. Family members feel the hurt regardless of the age of the person battling the disease.
And so over the years Close Cuts has become more broadly based in terms of what the money raised is targeted at.
More than half-a-million has now gone to cancer research. For a fundraiser in a small city started by two brave parents who were willing to let the death of their young son becoming a rallying point to help others, it is an amazing effort.
But today money goes to other efforts as well, in particular looking at how to help support those facing cancer here in our city.
This year money raised will go toward the creation of two palliative care rooms in the city.
Palliative care is a type of health care for patients and families facing life-threatening illness. Palliative care helps patients to achieve the best possible quality of life right up until the end of life.
The rooms will be less ‘health institutional’ and more family friendly, allowing for a patient’s last days to be as comfortable as possible in an atmosphere better suited to a family saying good bye to a loved one.
It is an element of care not currently available in Yorkton, but thanks in large part of Close Cuts two rooms should be ready for use this fall.
Cancer affects almost everyone at some point in their lives, either in having to battle the disease directly, or being there to support family, or close friends, so we are all too keenly aware of what its impact can be.
Still it is not something many find easy to talk about, or to share their experiences with.
Greg and Leone Ottenbreit and family have found the strength to do that year-in and year-out for nearly two decades now, and through that willingness to share they have helped raise awareness of cancer, and thousands of dollars to support research and local initiatives.
It is an amazing legacy for Brayden and one as a community we should be proud of.
