Thom Welby wanted to shave his head at an event in September for cancer awareness but could not bring himself to face the razor.
"I chickened out," the Scranton resident said.
But he soon realized "hair grows back."
So Mr. Welby organized a local "Be Bold, Be Bald" event, and on Saturday, people had their heads shaved or hair buzzed at the Mall at Steamtown. Similar events were held across the country.
Cuts or shaves were also given at Saucha salon in Kingston, and more than $900 had already been raised by early Saturday afternoon, Mr. Welby said.
But in the end, it is more about awareness than fundraising, he said.
"Every one of us has been touched by cancer, whether it's a family member or friend," he said.
Curious onlookers stood around Central Court at the mall as more than a dozen people had their heads shaved or buzzed in the first 45 minutes of the event. Other people put on flesh-colored "bald caps" to show their support.
For Saturday's event, Mr. Welby teamed up with Aimee's Army, formed by the late Aimee Dickey, who died from a rare brain tumor in 2008 at age 12.
Aimee's sister, Jennifer McKeon, had part of her hair buzzed, and Aimee's mom, Annette McKeon, spoke to people about cancer awareness.
"Cancer patients have no choice in going bald," Annette McKeon said. "We do it for the people who have no choice."
Stephen Glowatz of Scranton, who is fighting cancer for the second time, had his long hair cut short and hopes to donate what remains of his ponytail. After getting the trim, he watched as more people sat down for shaves.
"I think it's very courageous," he said. "I'm sure it gives them as good of a feeling as I have."
Contact the writer: shofius@timesshamrock.com, @hofiushallTT on Twitter