Brayden Ottenbreit's Close Cuts for Cancer is now entering its 17th year, and for the month of May it's bringing people together to raise money and awareness for cancer in Yorkton.
The launch event was held at Mr. Mikes with a barbecue, with all money raised outside of participant pledges going to local initiatives. That money goes to fund the Palliative Care Program, Chemo Outreach Program, and one night stays at Regina Cancer Lodge for people from the area. Ottenbreit says they are also partnering with Ronald McDonald House in Saskatoon to fund stays for local people there.
Leone Ottenbreit, co-founder, says that this year has seen many new events and sponsors come on board for the event, and the month of May will see numerous events, culminating in the head shave on May 31.
One new event is the Speedghetti championship, held at Boston Pizza. Ottenbreit says they still need 20 hungry people to raise $200 and take part in the challenge on May 26. Each participant gets a serving of spaghetti with a hot sauce, Ottenbreit explains, and the winner becomes the Speedghetti champion for the year. Speed and top money raised both get prizes for their efforts.
"No one will leave empty-handed or clean-faced," Ottenbreit says.
Money raised from the Speedghetti event will go to the local cancer initiatives program, and be used for the Palliative Care Program at the Yorkton Regional Health Centre via the Health Foundation.
While more events and people getting on board is a good thing, Ottenbreit says it also shows how cancer remains a disease that affects everyone, whether it's someone who has it or someone they love.
The goal of the event is to make cancer something people no longer have to be afraid of, whether that means a cure or a way to manage it in people's lives.
"For us it will always be about Brayden, but unfortunately cancer continues to touch the lives of so many people. So people who are coming forward now don't necessarily know Brayden, but they have someone they love that has been affected by the disease."
Ottenbreit says that people don't have to get their heads shaved to get involved. The event always needs plenty of volunteers, for example, especially on event day to take photos, help with registration and setup.
The goal every year is to raise a bit more, and Ottenbreit says that they don't have specific numbers in mind, instead focusing on continuing to move forward with the event.
"We stopped setting a dollar goal and a participant goal a few years ago because we decided we never wanted to be disappointed in this event. Whether we have one person or a hundred people, it's still more than we would have raised if we weren't doing it at all. We want to celebrate, create awareness, create support, offer hope to people faced with this disease and I think we do that every year."
To get involved, contact Ottenbreit at 306-783-2637 or 306-621-5295, email [email protected] or visit facebook.com/closecuts.
