The buzz in the air at the Avalon Mall Shave for the Brave on April 5, 2025 was much more than just the sound of the clippers in the hands of the barbers! It isn’t an understatement to say that the energy was palpable as it evidently touched the hearts of every Shaver, donor, spectator, and supporter who packed the mall on Saturday!
Twenty-five heads were Shaved and $21,935 was raised, but you can’t put a number on the intense spirit of community that made the event another unforgettable experience!
The Avalon Mall Shave for the Brave is Young Adult Cancer Canada’s (YACC) largest community event and our longest tradition supporting our mission! This year’s event was a perfect celebration of the past, present, and future of what Shave for the Brave represents. In addition to familiar faces and some of our longtime returning Shavers, there were also many new Shavers who were experiencing the most powerful haircuts of their lives for the very first time.
One of the many inspiring first-timers was Dianne Besso. Dianne walked on stage with a long head of hair that was braided and ready to donate. Dianne chose to go all the way and Shave her head bald after emotionally stating she was doing it in memory of family members that she had lost to cancer, including her mother who passed away in 2023.
“The experience was excellent, it was the first time I’ve ever done it and I’ll do it again,” Dianne confidently told us while proudly donning her new yellow Shave for the Brave toque.
Another first-time Shaver who entered the Avalon Mall on Saturday with a flowing head of long hair was Alexi Ladéroute. While Alexi has grown their hair to donate in the past, this was the first Shave for the Brave experience!
“The experience was great, and it was fast!” said Alexi, who admitted it was “definitely a bit emotional.” When we asked if Alexi would do it again, we got an enthusiastic response: “100%! I’m already planning to!”
Of some of our longest-running Shave for the Brave alumni who participated, this year marked a big ten years of Shaving for Ryan Pearce!
“It was really good, every year they always put off a deadly show,” Ryan told us after his Shave. “I’ll do it again for sure; I’ve got to keep the streak going now that I’m in the double digits!”
The Mount Pearl Blades Minor Hockey Association was also well-represented at the event. As longtime supporters of Shave for the Brave, The Blades presence was undeniably felt as the team put $11,363 on the scoreboard! $5,916 of their total was raised by our amazing 2025 Shave for the Brave Youth Ambassador and Blades teammate, Noah Crowley!
Ensuring that everyone who wanted to be a part of the experience got their opportunity, late-comer Tyler Andrews was on-shift working at Old Navy when he decided he wanted to Shave for the Brave. Though the stage was already being taken down after the event, our volunteer barber Nathan, who was representing Fogtown Barbershop, went directly to Old Navy where Tyler had his head Shaved in the middle of the store in front of an enthusiastic and emotional crowd of coworkers, friends, and shoppers! It was a very special moment that appropriately closed out an incredible afternoon.
In addition to all of the Shavers, donors, supporters, and volunteers, we would also like to thank Hugh Campbell of OZFM who hosted the event; Fogtown Barber representatives Ashleigh, Bryan, and Nathan who spent the morning Shaving heads; the Avalon Mall who once again gave us the space to bring our communities together; and our longtime sponsors Browning Harvey and CIBC!
We CANNOT WAIT to do it all again next year!
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