Editor’s note: I’m posting this on behalf of HawkerRob, otherwise known as Rob McGowan, the long-time face of beer delivery at Nat Bailey Stadium, not because Rob asked me to post it, but because I know a lot of people who peruse this blog have been following his situation of late.

Rob won’t be working at The Nat this year - we’re hoping he gets let out of solitary confinement in 2008 - which means his annual Shave a Hawker cancer fundraiser at Nat Bailey Stadium was cancelled at the zero hour.

Thankfully, you can’t keep a drooling optimist down, and Rob has managed to turn lemons into lemonade in a fairly major way by moving his fundraiser from the ballpark to the school where he works during the day… raising nearly $8000 for the Cancer Society in the process.

There’s still time to donate to the cause, but for all intents and purposes, today is the day that Rob McGowan’s scalp breathes fresh air once more.

Nice work, big guy. 

From the desk of Robby McGoo: 

Nothing here but a thank you… By the end of the day, I will be bald.

Oh, that’s a good thing. At the end of the 45 days I have been
promoting this haircut, I’m more than ready to have this mop removed
from my head.

I’m sending this letter out this way because it is the central database
where I have all of your email addresses. I’m not soliciting more
donations – don’t get me wrong, give if you want – but I’m just sending
out the thank you’s before the haircut, as a showing of appreciation
for all I have asked during this campaign.

The fundraising aspect has been the treasure. That people responded is
such ways to my call for support has reminded me that maybe I’m not
such a bad guy after all. Granted, there are people who are on board
simply to enjoy the spectacle I will be making of myself, but even they
appreciate that the cause is greater than the man.

As of midnight Thursday/Friday morning, I have raised $7000. Now, for
those of you who started late, that might appear less than my goal of
$8000; the fact of the matter is that I have raised my goal twice from
the initial starting point of a mere $2000. I consider a 350% surplus
over initial projections to be a spectacular success – and, unlike
Bre-X, the Cancer Society has already received their money.

The final total will be revealed on Monday, after the cup gets passed
around at school and I enter the money into the database. Plus, Mom
promised to send a cheque. But, whatever we top out at, the process was
worth it.

There are so many people to thank. Those who donated, of course, get
first and special mention. Each of you will be getting copies of the
photos of the shave and my bald head. Everybody who received an email,
regardless of donation, is also thanked, because you took the time to
read my pleas. There are many people who couldn’t donate because they
have already donated to other causes. Some people just didn’t. No
matter; that I took some of your time and you didn’t complain – that
counts too.

The Vancouver School Board also gets a big hug, because their tolerance
of my shag is evidence of their fairness as an employer. (I guess VESTA
gets a little of this then too.) A special, big hug goes out to the
staff of the Roberts Education Centre, my home for the last 14 years.
Many of you have already accepted it; some took seconds.

Chris Parry at Notes From the Nat – you’ve been a good friend. Thanks
for all the promo and support. As was Ernie Dragan, whose own shave for
the Province’s “Empty Stocking Fund” some years ago gave me the
inspiration for my own.

To the brothers of Phi Gamma Delta – I’m proud to be a FIJI. Thanks for turning me on to philanthropy back in university.

Even the Vancouver Canadians get some love, because my stupidity forced
me to rely on a depth of character I’d forgotten I had. I actually
think I’m a bigger man now. If you missed out on my fundraiser, Lori
Bonang from their front office is running a fundraiser at the Nat on June
29 – no haircut, but a donation gets you a free mullet (wig).

[Ed: You can donate to that fundraiser here]

Finally, and deservedly, my wife Lisa, whose tolerance in the face of
waking up next to 1975 knows no bounds. Oh sure, it’s from one extreme
to the other, but bald can get better, while shag never does.

Apparently the turnout at the school today is going to be quite impressive. I hope the hype lives up to the hair.

I will see you all on the other side. Thanks for everything.

Rob

Follow This Link to visit my personal web page and help me in my efforts to support Canadian Cancer Society - Independent Fundraising Events

People, the hair may be gone, but cancer is still out there. If you haven’t yet given, follow the link above and throw down a few bucks. And if you have given, maybe see if you can’t spare another five or ten and help the big guy get to Target #3 - he’s only a grand short as it stands.

One final note to end this post comes from an email to me from Rob earlier today: you can take the boy out of The Nat, but you can’t take The Nat out of the man.

Stopped by to pick up a GA ticket for the fellow cutting my hair. I have to tell you, the interior looks awesome. Kinda like a model.
It’s all lit up and pretty. Therefore, you HAVE to get to Fandemonium
on Sunday.

I’ll be there, Robert. We’ll raise a plastic cup in your honour.