Sheriff Chitwood shaves Deltona commissioner's head to help cancer patients
DELTONA — The favor City Commissioner Dana McCool recently asked of Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood was one he'd never before heard.
But ahead of Monday's commission meeting, Chitwood granted McCool's request and shaved her head.
"Shave it off, let it blow to the wind, and let's get busy fighting," McCool, who was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic bone cancer earlier this year, said before taking a seat and putting on a barber's cape.
'May 1 More Be Saved' raises $5K for cancer patients
A couple of weeks ago — with clumps of her light brown hair already coming out and upcoming treatments that would likely finish the job — McCool decided to raffle the chance to shave her head and donate the proceeds to the Florida Cancer Specialists Foundation.
ME STRONG 5K: Popular event returns to DeLand with help of cancer foundation, West Volusia rotary clubs
With a $500 contribution from the Rotary Club of DeBary-Deltona-Orange City, McCool reached her $5,000 goal Monday afternoon for the event she dubbed "May 1 More Be Saved."
Joe Hearn and Pat Northey, the club's president and vice president, respectively, presented the check to McCool.
"It really does take the community, it takes all of us coming together," said Hearn, noting that most people have been affected by cancer in some way.
McCool said she asked Chitwood to serve as the barber in case the raffle winner, which wound up being an Ohio married couple McCool is friends with, were unable to attend.
Chitwood said he was both shocked and honored by McCool's request.
With music playing and NJ Barbershop owner Carlos Yanes standing by, the sheriff got the haircut started and took off most of the length.
"This is going to empower other women because we are not our hair, we are not; we are strong of spirit, mind and body," McCool said. "This is for every woman, every man going through cancer right now that feels like they will be losing something; you are not, you are starting the fight."
Before handing the clippers over to the professional to finish the job, Chitwood led the two-dozen-plus attendees, including McCool's supporters and a couple of her fellow commissioners, in singing "Happy Birthday" to McCool who turns 59 next Monday.
In an interview post-haircut, Chitwood said he knows McCool is in for the fight of her life, and it's not even her first cancer battle as McCool beat breast cancer over a decade ago.
"The fact she's out in front of it trying to raise money, she's an inspiration to all of us," Chitwood said. "Nobody knows how much time we have left on this Earth, so why not do the best we can do to make lives better."
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Chitwood shaves Deltona commissioner's head for cancer fundraiser
