Mane cut for a cause
The reader board outside The Man Shop in downtown Spokane read, “Help a Hippie get a haircut.”
While a Seattle Mariners baseball game was playing on a nearby television last Wednesday, a small group of family members and friends gathered around Jesse Hansen, the “hippie” in need of a trim.
His long, wavy hair trailed to the middle of his back. As Hansen watched in the mirror, a stylist efficiently braided it. In an instant, with one quick cut, Hansen no longer was a hippie.
It was a rather abrupt end to a hairstyle he’d sported for 18 years.
It wasn’t fashion sense or desire for change that motivated this cut; rather, it was done in honor of Hansen’s brother-in-law, Michael Comboy, who died of cancer in January 2004.
“Prior to my brother’s death, I promised him I would raise money in his name each year to keep his spirit alive,” said Jesse Hansen’s wife, Jennifer Hansen. “Michael requested that the money go to help kids with cancer.”
The Hansens chose Candlelighters of the Inland Northwest to be the beneficiary of this year’s fundraiser. Candlelighters offers practical assistance to families whose children are dealing with cancer.
“They help with gas cards and snacks at the hospital,” Jennifer Hansen said, “and 100 percent of donations stay local.”
Friends and family members distributed fliers about the fundraiser around town, and the couple chose the Man Shop for the shearing. “They’ve been so great to work with,” said Jennifer Hansen.
A bucket at the front counter was overflowing with donations. “They offered to match all funds that came in.”
Jennifer Hansen says she believes Comboy would have loved this idea. “When he walked me down the aisle for my wedding, he teased me about marrying a ‘long-hair,’ ” she said.
Though he was five years her senior, the brother and sister were always close. One of her fondest memories of her brother is a scar on his chin.
“He got it when he was peering into my crib. He slipped and fell. He was always my protector, always looking out for me,” she said.
Jesse Hansen’s hair was donated to Locks of Love, so two organizations dedicated to helping cancer patients benefited from this hippie haircut.
After the braid had been cut, the stylist continued working her magic, and more of Jesse Hansen’s curly locks fell to the floor.
Jennifer Hansen laughed and said, “It will be really nice not to have hair clogs in the drain.”
Her husband didn’t seem too fazed by his loss. As the wet curls scattered at his feet, he looked down, shrugged, then said with a grin, “It’s only hair.”