Making wishes come true

Over 60 people had their head shaved as volunteers collected donations from those gathered to watch the fourth-annual Make-a-Wish Foundation’s Hair Massacure.

Local celebrities like Mayor Larry O’Brien and Police Chief Vern White were invited to shave volunteers.

Armed with clippers and promises from the pros that it’s impossible to make a mistake, I also had an opportunity to remove some hair. Make-a-Wish Foundation Eastern Ontario executive director Mike Wlotzki took a seat in the chair in front of me. Clippers a-buzz, I took off a swath of hair down the middle of his head, immediately committing him to the rest of the process.

Of course, the veteran Massacure victim never had any intentions of turning back anyway. Before his hair started falling to the stage, Wlotzki told those gathered he had raised an impressive $1,000 to encourage him to get his new look. And lucky for him, the pros were right. It was virtually impossible to mess up the ‘do.

The real celebrity at the event, though, was nine-year-old Wish-Kid Isabelle. The Blackburn Hamlet youngster received a blue piano and, according to Wlotzki, decided to pay the wish forward. Isabelle and her mother both got their heads shaved, side-by-side, after collecting pledges to make another child’s wish come true.

This is the first time the Hair Massacure has been held in Orléans, having been hosted in other parts of Ottawa in past years. Wlotzki said the organization wants to spread the word that anyone who knows a child between three and 17-years-old with a life-threatening illness should contact Make-a-Wish to see if the child qualifies. “It’s a simple process,” he said.

Locally, a group of dedicated volunteers known as the Orléans Angels walk families through the process and grant wishes.

Chantal Lemay, one of the local wish-granters, said she sees so many changes in the children as they embark on the journey of making their dreams a reality. “It’s magic,” she said. “The anticipation of a wish is powerful medicine,” Wlotzki added.

Granting a wish costs anywhere between $7,000 to $10,000, depending on the size of the family and wish, he continued.

In the end, the event in Orléans raised $23,000, which will stay in the community, said Dennis Elliott, who takes care of communication and volunteerism for Make-a-Wish Foundation Eastern Ontario. He indicated a few wishes are already on the go in the area. With the events in Kingston and Metcalfe held earlier in February, Make-a-Wish Foundation Eastern Ontario managed to bring in a total of $36,000.

The organization is hosting another event in May with a goal of raising enough funds to grant an additional 10 wishes in the region. Innovapost’s third-annual Share the Power of a Wish Walk/Run takes place May 8 at Ottawa city hall. To register to participate or learn how to make a pledge, please visit http://wishpower.innovapost.com .