School of Dentistry students raise $12,000 for Camp Quality kids

A standing-room-only crowd turned out for Students Take Action’s (STA) 10th annual Shear Madness event, held at the UMKC School of Dentistry on March 3. Eleven female students and four male students took turns having their hair cut or heads shaved while an enthusiastic audience egged them on with wild cheering and cash bids.

Three faculty members also submitted to the shears: Dr. Lynn Friesen had her hair cut by her three boys, Dr. James Parrott had his hair dyed green and red by the highest bidder, and Dr. John Stone had his beard shaved off. Participants who had their hair cut at least eight inches will have their hair donated to the wigs-for-cancer-patients programs Pantene Beautiful Lengths or Locks of Love.

STA president Emily Carter (DDS Class of 2012) happily reported that this year’s Shear Madness raised $12,000, which equals the event’s previous best year. Those funds will pay the way for 12 children to attend Camp Quality, a non-profit organization that provides free camping experiences and year-round support programs for children with cancer and their families.

Five hair stylists from Xiphium Salon in Leawood, Kan., volunteered to cut the hair and shave the heads and beards of the participants. Xiphium’s manager, Erin Sampier, said that she and her colleagues had such a good time that they hope to be invited back next year. (Erin didn’t report any complaints from her Shear Madness customers; however, the students who had their heads shaved did admit that their heads felt unusually chilly).

Students Take Action was founded in 1998 by a group of dental students dedicated to compassion and comradeship through community service. Shear Madness is just one of a variety of volunteer activities that STA sponsors throughout the year.