Clips for Cancer: Estero youth shaves heads at annual event
Logan Stryker smiled broadly as the clippers began to buzz. He lifted them to the thick dark brown hair on Michael Nachef’s head and began to shave. Logan, 9, of Estero was one of four children shaving the heads of community leaders during the 6th Annual Clips for Cancer event. Another 16 children will shave heads on Sept. 29. The event was shown live on Facebook and YouTube with the hopes of raising $350,000 from the event.
The event benefits Southwest Florida children who are battling cancer and other blood disorders at Golisano, by showing them that they do not fight alone. Last October Logan discovered a rare type of cancer causing a growth by his shoulder blade.
“As a parent you never in a million years would think we would get the diagnosis of cancer,” said his mother, Rachel Stryker. “You just get thrust into it, and you have to move along with it. And we are very thankful for Golisano. The team moved fast, and we are really fortunate for that.”
Logan had his last chemo treatment in July and will ring the bell on September 7th.
“He just has such a great positive outlook, and I think that really helped him,” Rachel Stryker explained. “Even when he was feeling ill.”
The community rushed to support the young Estero boy. Pinewoods Elementary School, where Logan is now a fourth grader, designed t-shirts that say: “Team Logan, Stryking Out Cancer.” They also held a parade for him in April.
“It was amazing,” Rachel Stryker said. “We were very touched. The community has shown so much support for our family. We are grateful to this entire community for embracing us.”
Now Logan is embracing the cancer community. He is working hard at raising money to help children with cancer. When Logan had his surgery, that removed the cancer and his scapula bone, at All Children’s Hospital in Tampa, he loved getting slushies from a machine there.
“I wanted to have one here,” Logan explained. “It was my idea because I had one at my surgery hospital so I wanted to raise money for one here.”
So, Logan began selling lemonade and iced tea in the front yard of his Estero home. He raised $4,000 and that was matched by another donor. Now there is a slushy machine at Golisano’s Children’s Hospital in Fort Myers.
“My favorite flavors are cherry and blue raspberry,” Logan said.
He added that he is looking forward to trying a new flavor called Pina Koala.
“I am ready for a slushy,” he said.
But first he had a head to shave.
Logan jumped up and down with excitement as he is waiting for the event to start.
“I’m excited because I get to shave somebody’s head,” Logan said.
“I can do it because I shaved my dad’s head a bit. It was fun.”
When Logan started losing his hair, his father, Scott Stryker, had his head shaved, letting Logan do the first few cuts before handing the clippers over to a professional.
“I’ve enjoyed it more than I thought I would,” Scott Stryker said. “I was nervous at first, but now I enjoy the process.”
This time Logan got to do most of the shaving during the Clips for Cancer event.
“He’s (Nachef) been growing out his beard just so I can do that too,” Logan said.
Michael Nachef, vice president of government relations at Golisano Children’s Hospital, sat bravely in the chair smiling as Logan ran the clippers through his hair.
“I did it because Logan asked me to,” Nachef said. “Besides it is always great to be humbled every once in a while.”
Eventually the whole family got a chance to shave Nachef with Rachel, Scott and Logan’s younger brother Griffin, 7, all taking a quick turn.
Nachef said as of Friday he had already raising more than $8,500 and hoped to get $12,000 in donations for being shaved. Overall event organizers hope to raise $350,000. All proceeds benefit Barbara’s Friends, the hospital's cancer fund.
“It’s not just friends and family, a lot of community leaders got involved,” Nachef explained. “A lot of people want to help with this.”
Amy Frith, senior director at Golisano Children’s Hospital, said events like this are important in helping children and their families with everything from funds for transportation and treatments to college scholarships. Currently there are 80 children from Southwest Florida being treated for cancer at Golisano Children’s Hospital.
“It really is all about raising awareness as well as funds,” Frith said.
Earlier this year, Logan also helped raise $20,000 by designing a t-shirt for a golf tournament at Lexington Country Club. Now Logan is cancer free.
“Once the tumor was removed, they did a full body scan,” Rachel Stryker explained. “There was no evidence of the disease in his body, but he still had to continue with chemo to make sure there is nothing left.”
Now Logan is looking forward to ringing the bell signaling that he is cancer free, and of course he’s looking forward to enjoying another slushy.
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This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Clips for Cancer: Estero youth shaves heads at annual event
