Virgen’s View: Cancer fundraiser makes for great day to go bald

Mike Johnson casually sipped a glass of Guinness beer as he lost his big hair and eventually his bushy beard to an electric razor.

He sat on a stage Sunday at The Harp Inn in Costa Mesa, where he was a big part of a third annual charity event at the bar. Yet this is the seventh year Johnson has had his shaved for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, which raises money to help fight childhood cancer.

Johnson, a Los Angeles police officer who lives in Orange County, says he has raised more than $7,000 in the past seven years. Event organizers at The Harp honored him with a special ceremony.

“It started as a dare and a bet when I grew my hair and beard out to get it shaved,” Johnson said. “St. Baldrick’s is an organization I researched and saw the amount of money that was raised and see it go to research for childhood cancer.”

At Sunday’s event, nicknamed “Shave for the Brave,” those who volunteered to go bald did their best to be brave, especially Johnson, who was made a knight of the Bald Table.

Clark Frehner, a 13-year-old from Ladera Ranch who was similarly honored last year, shaved his head for the eighth year and then “knighted” Johnson.

“When you’re knighting, you’re not so much the center of attention, but it’s OK,” Clark said. “A lot of people don’t understand what it is. … I tell them it’s just for this foundation.”

The Costa Mesa Fire Department was well-represented Sunday. Tom Gardner, Dave Kearley, Scott Fenton and Paul Kim had their heads shaved and sold special T-shirts for the event. Local hairstylists did the shaving.

There wasn’t much style to the hair on Sunday, though there was plenty of flair.

The four from the Costa Mesa Fire Department raised $4,500 for St. Baldrick’s. After they shaved their heads, they posed for a photo with Costa Mesa Councilwoman Katrina Foley.

For the second consecutive year, I shaved my head. It didn’t seem as emotional as last year, but it was just as meaningful and fun.

Meredith Wisniewski, a volunteer from Chicago, wasn’t expecting to have her head shaved, but a friend challenged her to do it if $250 was raised for her to become bald. Many at the bar helped raise more than that.

The money helped Wisniewski’s Team Go Bald or Go Home raise well over $15,000. The team also helped sell auction items and raffle tickets for prizes.

In addition, The Harp donated 10% of the day’s sales to St. Baldrick’s.

Thirty people shaved their heads, according to organizers, who said they are still receiving donations and hope to collect a total of $30,000.

Last year’s effort raised close to $60,000. Organizers plan to hold the event again next year on a Sunday in March.

“It’s a super organization that puts the money donated into action,” Johnson said. “Just within the past few weeks there was a drug approved by the FDA that is one of the first in 20 years to help with childhood cancer. They [St. Baldrick’s] give grants, and the money actually makes a difference.”