Durham Bulls front office staffers get their heads shaved for The Vs. Cancer Foundation to fight kids’ cancer at the ballgame on Friday, August 28, 2015.
The Capitol Broadcasting suite at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park is infamous for its barber chair and dedicated barber, but the front office staff and team took getting your hair cut at the ballpark to a whole new level on Friday, August 28, 2015. One coach, four players and five staff members went under the clippers for a good cause, to support The Vs. Cancer Foundation to cure kids’ cancer.
Between online pledges and a silent auction during the game, the Bulls raised about $5,000 for the Vs. Cancer Foundation. Half of that money will go to the national children’s research and the other half will stay here locally, going to Duke Children’s Hospital.
DBBC Multimedia Manager Walmer Medina had a special reason for participating.
“My head feels lighter, a lot lighter,” said Medina. “I participated to honor my youngest sister. She was affected by the disease at the age of 12 and battled against the disease for three years. We have seen firsthand the impact organizations like Vs Cancer have on families and kids battling the disease. My sister is now in full remission and participating in events like this is just a way for me to give back and say thank you on our family’s behalf.”
Medina was joined by his front office colleagues Director of Marketing Scott Carter, Group Ticket Sales Manager Brian Simorka, Community/Mascot Coordinator Nicholas Tennant and Retail Manager Bryan Wilson. Bulls Manager Jared Sandberg joined the front office staffers in the barber chairs alongside players Ryan Brett, Boog Powell, Luke Maile, and C.J. Riefenhauser.
Durham Bulls Manager Jared Sandberg (l to r) and players Ryan Brett, Boog Powell, Luke Maile, and C.J. Riefenhauser get their heads shaved for The Vs. Cancer Foundation to fight kids’ cancer after the ballgame on Friday, August 28, 2015.
“I decided to personally participate because of how closely it hits home,” said Carter. “Having a young son myself, I can’t fathom what families afflicted with children’s cancer go through. Chase Jones, the founder of Vs. Cancer, is not only a former UNC baseball player but a cancer survivor himself. His passion really rubbed off on our staff and team.”
Simorka joined Carter in getting what is called a “3-guard” which left about ¼ of the hair on his head. Simorka tells Capcom that his fiancée wouldn’t let him go the full Monty bald with their engagement photos coming up in October. But he wanted to support the effort.
“It’s a cause that tugs at your heart strings a bit,” said Simorka. “I’ve worked with Chase and the folks from the Vs. Cancer Foundation in the past to provide tickets and bring some of the kids out to games. I know this is a worth-while cause. Seeing Diego, the young man who threw out the first pitch at the game on Friday, and knowing that he has gone through way more in his life at age 7 than I have in 32 years, it was a no-brainer to participate. Every time I saw him that night, he was laughing or had a smile on his face; so full of energy, like every kid should. For me, it’s only hair; most of it will grow back!”
Thanks to DBBC’s Scott Carter for these capcom photos.
