Gilbert Smith Forest Products Ltd. (GSFP) held a ‘Shave For The Brave’ event last week in support of Mike Kennedy, a 30 year employee of the company who was recently diagnosed with cancer.
Greg Smith, GSFP general manager, says the event was to show support for Mike and the journey he is undertaking as he starts cancer treatments. Support was shown by 35 workers; which included Smith, Kennedy and one woman, Lynn Wright, who all had their heads shaved. For every head shaved, GSFP paid $100 into a pot that will be used to purchase a cancer treatment related item for a cancer facility in the southern Interior. Ron Wallace Trucking also lent their support by paying $50 for every head shaved, a number of other donations were received, with the final total at approximately $6,000.
Kennedy says he was really exited about doing this for the fight against cancer, and that he was “overwhelmed” by the turnout of so many to lend their support.
As Kennedy himself now goes through the cancer treatment process, he will also be looking into what cancer treatment related item the group will purchase with the dollars raised.
During the ‘Shave For The Brave’, there was an atmosphere of fun, caring and camaraderie in the GSFP lunchroom where the shearing took place, and when Mike Kennedy took the clippers to his boss Greg Smith ,there was much laughter and teasing all around.
Kennedy’s daughter Jenny volunteered to put the clippers to work, as did Lynn Wright and others in attendance. Each person who had their head shaved received a toque with the Gilbert Smith Forest Products Ltd. logo.