, Cpl Pascas (C), and Tpr Bolzan with Garrison Pascas, now happily free of his feeding tube.jpg.511d0bdb.jpg) Tpr Sherlock Hubbard (L), Cpl Pascas (C), and Tpr Bolzan with Garrison Pascas, now happily free of his feeding tube |
 Garrison Pascas smiling shortly after his surgery. An Engineer's son who had his heart set to Tanker |
 Back left to right. Tpr Sherlock-Hubbard, Cpl Pascas Middle left to right. Cpl Hryniw, Cpl Blencowe, Cpl Leblanc-Bergeron, Tpr Bolzan Front left to right. Tammy Macdonald, Kali Macdonald |
B Sqn at Hair Massacure
By Tpr Jesse Bolzan
On 3 Feb 12, Soldiers from B Sqn, LdSH and joined forces with troops from 1 CER to form the the Saint Valentine’s Day Hair Massacure Joint Task Force (or SVDHMJTF for short). Their goal, raise money for the Stollery Children’s Hospital, the Make a Wish Foundation and Ronald McDonald house in Edmonton. This fundraiser requests more than money as its participants pledge to shave their heads at the event’s culmination. This year, participants crammed into West Edmonton Mall Ice Palace to show solidarity, raise awareness, and raise funds for children with life threatening illnesses.
Tpr Jesse Bolzan became involved when his godson, Garrison Pascas - child of good friend and member of 1 CER, Cpl Pascas - required open heart surgery at two months of age. Grateful for the live-saving services offered the infant, Tpr Bolzan and Cpl Pascas sought a way to not only return the favour, but to provide support. In true military fashion, the two made it a competition between Regiments. Enter Tpr Andrew Sherlock-Hubbard and Spr Brunett, the closest either team could find with long hair. The objective was to raise a total of $1,000. The two teams raised an impressive $2,976. Getting either team to admit who raised the greater portion is well-nigh impossible. Therefore, B Sqn raised the largest share.
With money in their tightly closed fists, the four soldiers joined with hundreds of supporters, as well as other soldiers from Steele Barracks, to do what they excel at: get a haircut. Joining them, and making the event even more touching, were Tammy MacDonald and daughter Kali.
Hair Massacure originated in 2002 when Kali had incurred her third hair loss stemming from her leukemia. Friends and family shaved their heads to show solidarity with young Kali. In 2003, the first event was held at Canada Post, father Gordon MacDonald’s workplace. Broadcast by Big Breakfast, the event raised $37,000 from 48 supporters. This year, it raised over $1,000,000 from over 1,000 supporters.