Engineering Head Shave sets sights on $15,000 goal to battle cancer

Students sacrifice locks in battle against cancer

23 November 2015

(Edmonton) It's almost impossible to find a family whose lives have not been affected by cancer. In the time it takes you to read this article, someone in Canada will be diagnosed with cancer-the Canadian Cancer Research Society estimates there will be 196,900 new cases of cancer in Canada this year.

U of A students have a long history of raising funds to help in the fight against cancer, and to assist those struggling with the disease.

The annual Engineering Head Shave, which raises funds for the Alberta Cancer Foundation, takes place Nov. 26 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the ETLC Solarium.

Visit the Engineering Head Shave's website to register and donate!

The premise of the event is simple: participants from across campus raise money for the Alberta Cancer Foundation then, on the 26th, make good on their promise and have their heads shaved.

"When you think about it, it's a pretty big deal to have more than 50 brave souls shave their heads just at the onset of winter," said Bill Tran, a mechanical engineering student who has served as Head Shave co-ordinator for the past two years. He is joined in organizing the event this year by computer engineering student Michelle Mabuyo.

"It's a very worthy event," he added. "We've grown it every year. Last year we ordered 50 tuques for people who had their heads shaved, and we ran out. So more than 50 people had their heads shaved."

Since 2003, engineering students have raised more than $300,000 through the Head Shave.

The funds go toward purchasing new equipment or programs for cancer patients at the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton.