Take a good look at Kevin Lynch as he is now in all his hairy glory because in a few weeks the Oxford resident is going to be bald and beardless.
Lynch, whose family owns and operates Lynch & Sons Funeral Directors Bossardet Chapel at 39 W. Burdick St., is planning to make his entire head a hair-free zone to raise funds for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, which supports childhood cancer research.
‘I’m going bald now, so I’ve got to do it before I’m completely bald, otherwise people won’t donate,? he said.
Every year since 2000, St. Baldrick’s volunteers shave their heads in solidarity with kids fighting cancer and solicit donations for the foundation.
Over the last 10 years, more than 106,000 volunteers have shaved their heads at events in all 50 states and 24 countries, raising more than $68 million.
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation now funds more in childhood cancer research grants than any organization except the U.S. government.
Lynch’s head and face will be completely shaved on Wednesday, March 17 at the Uptown Grille in Commerce Township.
But before he faces the ominous buzz of the electric shaver, he’s collecting as much as he can in donations.
His initial goal is $1,000.
‘I’m hoping that I can surpass that, but with the economic times we’re in, any donation is good and can be of help,? he said.
Donations can be made on-line by visiting www.stbaldricks.org/participants/klynch or by calling (888) 899-BALD (2253).
Lynch’s older brother, Tim Jr., also a funeral director, participated in a St. Baldrick’s fund-raiser a few years old to honor the memory of Faolan Brace MacBeth. He provided funeral services for the 2-year-old girl who died of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in January 2002.
His brother’s example combined with his own role as a new father convinced Lynch to sacrifice his hair and beard for this worthwhile charity. He too is doing this to honor MacBeth’s memory.
‘Now that I’m a new father, I’m a little bit more sensitive to the needs that are out there,? he said.
Lynch has a 5-month-old girl named Addison.
‘She’s a healthy girl, but if God forbid, something happened to her and there were people out there who had the resources or abilities to make a difference, I would be praying that those came through,? he said.
Unfortunately, in his line of work, Lynch has witnessed first-hand the grief of families mourning the loss of children.
‘Every year, I provide service to a couple of families who lose babies,? he said. ‘If there’s anything I can do by raising money to prevent that from happening to somebody, then I’m all for that.?
On a personal level, Lynch was affected by cancer when his grandmother died of throat cancer.
‘I think everyone in some way knows someone who’s had or is dealing with cancer,? he said. ‘Obviously, cancer’s one of the Number One killers.?
Since he’s already going bald, the thought of showing the world his shiny dome isn’t really bothering Lynch. The loss of his beard, however, is another story.
‘I’m a little bit more concerned about the beard,? he said.
Lynch has sported the Grizzly Adams-esque facial hair for the better part of five years.
‘I’ve shaved it maybe once or twice, but I always grew it right back,? he said. ‘I shaved it one time in the last year or so, so my wife could see me without it. She had never seen that before.?
Over the years, he received plenty of good-natured ribbing from family members who encouraged him to lose the whiskers because they didn’t feel the mountain man look suited his profession.
Lynch admitted he kept the beard as a form of rebellion.
‘I think my mother prefers me to be clean-shaven,? he noted.