Stories

Buzzing for Tim

I had done Relay for Life (the 12-hour overnight walk to raise money for cancer research) the night before with Epsilon Sigma Alpha, GW's only community service sorority. Going on 4 hours sleep, I was scheduled to volunteer at Buzzing for Change. I was doing these back to back events because in the summer of 2005 I lost one of my best friends to cancer of the esophagus - Tim Roberts was only 22. Cancer of the esophagus is extremely rare in young people, especially those who don't smoke; the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston believes he was their youngest patient ever to have that particular form. While he was sick, and after he passed away, I had participated in various fundraising events, both for national cancer research, and to support the Tim Roberts Reeling in a Dream Fund at Dana Farber in Boston (basically make a wish for people over 18); but being at Buzzing for Change was a very new, and very powerful experience. While volunteering, I was so moved by all the people who were shaving their heads or donating their hair, especially other women, that I became inspired to donate as well. I had just enough hair to donate - as long as I buzzed it. I called my dad and asked him what he'd think of me having a shaved head in graduation pictures that May, and he told me just to go for it. I made the nervous decision to do it, and while I continued volunteering, waiting my turn, my roommate started calling everyone in her phonebook asking for donations. In less than an hour we raised over $300! I was so nervous, but also incredibly emboldened by the experience. While my head was being shaved I held my roommate's hand so tightly my knuckles turned white... Seeing myself with no hair was a huge shock - luckily I have an even shaped head so it worked out ok! Another girl from my sorority also chose to shave her head that day, against her family's wishes because of the upcoming Easter holiday. As soon as she finished, we ran to each other for a massive hug. It was an extremely emotional moment, as was the entire event for me. The first person I called after losing my hair was Tim's mom; she was shocked when I told her what I'd done, but so glad I was doing something in memory of him. Her biggest fear is that Timmy will be forgotten - which is completely impossible because of all the love, warmth, laughter and courage he inspired in all of us who knew and loved him. Being a woman, especially one who liked to play with her hair, having a shaved head was extremely weird at first, and I seriously wore skirts for a week just to feel feminine! But overall I think it gave me more self-confidence, helped me to look at myself in a new way...and I discovered that I actually don't look half bad with no hair. The first time I ventured off campus, I got strange stares and looks from everyone I passed by on the street. But it didn't matter - for months afterward, whenever someone commented on my hair I would tell them why I had done it, and they were always amazed and I hope a little bit inspired. It's been a year and my hair is still relatively short, and all the in-between stages in growing it out have driven me crazy, but I wouldn't change it for the world. I'm so glad to have participated in such an amazing event, and hope I can inspire others to do so as well, whether as volunteers or to shave/donate their hair.