Hair today, gone tomorrow.
Well, not quite tomorrow, but Tammy Leslie has just three more sleeps until her locks disappear – totally.
“I’ve had lots of emails from friends, family offering congratulations, support, the whole nine yards,” says Leslie of her decision to crop the curls.
“I even had one of my girlfriends say ‘Bald is beautiful,’” she adds with a giggle.
“She says she’s seen me with every hair style – and colour – since we were kids – from spiked purple to frizzy red and bleached blonde,” says the former hairdresser.
In fact Leslie has an appointment with ‘the clippers’, Friday afternoon. But this time it’s more than just a trim – or even a haircut.
It’ll be the first time in a decade that her hair will be short, she admits. And this time, “the word ‘short’ will be an understatement,” she adds with another laugh.
Leslie plans to send her carefully shorn locks to a wig-making facility in the United States. And all the money she’s collected from local sponsors, businesses and supporters, will go to the Terry Fox Foundation for cancer research, as her contribution to the Great Canadian Head Shave that the Foundation.
“People have been very supportive,” she adds. She’s received messages, comments and emails since she first announced her intentions in The Leader last month.
Leslie says multiple bouts with cancer in the family – and the accompanying baldness — prompted her to donate her hair for the cause. And it just happened that many Terry Fox Run sites across the country were hosting head shaves for cancer research in conjunction with the annual Terry Fox Runs this month.
She was particularly impressed when local businessmen offered to help out; people like realtor Jim Sparks who handed over a very generous donation.
“We all know someone who is affected by cancer,” Sparks said last week.
“People can die with cancer – or live with cancer – and I would like to see a lot more living.”
Anyone interested in sponsoring Tammy’s effort can call The Leader at 849-4380.
“There’s still lots of time,” she adds, glancing ruefully at the calendar.
“Lots of time, three whole days.”
Two days after that is the annual Terry Fox Run, and Slave Lake organizer said the community has been quick to step up to the plate with generous donations.
“’The Fox’ radio will be on site, and after the walk there’ll be a free barbeque for participants,” sa ys Lenny Richer. And any other community members who want to make a donation can eat too. All the money raised will go to the Terry Fox Foundation.”
The local Run will take off from Schurter Park on 3rd Ave. NE at 1:30 p.m. Sponsorship forms are available at the Town office and The Leader.

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