CREDIT: ERIKA FAUST
Former Fanshawe student Joe Ayotte had his golden locks chopped off to raise funds for Make-A-Wish’s Go Blue! Go Bald! campaign in a previous year. This year’s event takes place in Forwell Hall on March 27.

Every year, Make-A-Wish Southwestern Ontario grants dozens of wishes from children with life-threatening medical conditions. Fanshawe students are helping those wishes come true.

From 12 to 1 p.m. on March 27, Forwell Hall is the place to be to watch as students and staff have their heads shaved by hair stylists from Fringe Hair Co. on campus. Show off your blue 'dos (or your blue wigs or clip-in extensions or feathers) to show support for this awesome organization.

Barbara Kaczmar, a Corporate Communications and Public Relations student at Fanshawe, is currently working at Make-A-Wish for her internship. She's been working hard over the last few weeks to organize the March 27 event on campus.

Last year, Fanshawe donated $3,000 to Make-A-Wish through a Go Blue! Go Bald! fundraiser. “I definitely want to beat that,” Kaczmar said with a grin. It looks like she's well on her way: Fanshawe has already raised over $2,200, most of which was collected by a former wish child who now attends Fanshawe. All the money raised will help fund a child's wish. The average wish costs $8,000, so dig deep.

Before the big day, you can register online to help raise money for Make-A-Wish. Go to makeawish.ca/gobluegobald, click Register on the left, create a new account and select Fanshawe College, London from the location list. After you register, you'll get a kit that includes permanent blue hair dye, bleach, a pledge form and a Make-A-Wish button. Even if you decide not to go permanently blue, you can still show your support by signing up and collecting donations. “It's another way students can help and be a part and get involved with this great cause,” said Kaczmar.

Local indie-pop singer Neisha Dunn will be performing a stripped-down acoustic set at Forwell Hall on March 27 as part of the Make-A-Wish fundraiser. “Come out and enjoy some tunes while you see people get their heads shaved or hair dyed (blue),” she said.

She described her music as pop with elements of folk and indie. On March 27 she plans to perform some original songs, as well as covers of songs by Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber.

Dunn also performed at a Make- A-Wish fundraising event at Westmount Mall earlier this month. She devotes a lot of her time to charity work, having gone on a tour of kids' campus this past summer and spending time with children with mental disabilities. “I'm all for supporting charities, especially when it comes to adolescents.”

Dunn will be selling her albums and t-shirts at the March 27 event, and all proceeds will go to Make- A-Wish. Check her out online at facebook.com/NeishaDunnOfficial and give her music a listen at reverbnation.com/NeishaDunnOfficial.

For more information about Make-A-Wish, check out makeawish.ca.