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| Aroostook Republican Photo/Lisa Wilcox Dr. Carl Flynn of Pines Health Services sits patiently while Linda Selander shaves off his hair to raise money for Relay for Life. |
By Lisa Wilcox
Staff Writer
CARIBOU — “You should shave your head for Relay for Life,” Pines Health Services nurses Michelle Ayotte and Kaley Bourgoine proclaimed to their boss, Dr. Carl Flynn.
And with those words, so began Flynn’s journey to temporary baldness.
The good doctor advised the pair that if the office was able to raise $1,000, he would do it. Determined, the Pines staff pulled together and, with a generous donation from chiropractor Dr. Arthur Selander of Caribou, managed to raise the money, leaving Flynn with no choice but to go ahead with the plan.
“I thought about what it meant and probably would have done it even if they hadn’t reached the $1,000,” Flynn admitted.
With an ample amount of hair and never having shaved his head before, Flynn was a little nervous.
“I’ve seen Chris Weimer from WAGM do it and how quickly his grows back,” Flynn remarked before the shearing. “I hope mine does the same.”
Because Selander was the highest donor, the Pines staff bestowed upon him the honor of shaving Flynn’s head. Selander, in turn, passed the baton — or razor — on to his wife, Linda, who started the process with electric clippers, bringing Flynn’s once thick pile of hair down to just a short carpet of fuzz.
After debate as to who would finish the deed, physician’s assistant Lindsay Burlock, armed with a can of shaving cream, coffee cup full of warm water, disposable manual razor and mostly steady hands, stepped up to gently rid Flynn’s head of the remaining hair.
“It doesn’t look as bad as I thought it would,” Flynn commented to himself in the mirror, patting his now bald head. “Now I need warm weather.”
When asked if he planned revenge on Selander, Flynn said he’d have to think about how to get back at him, since Selander wears his own hair cropped tightly to his head. The two doctors know each other socially as they have coached Little League together and Selander’s daughter once worked at Pines.
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| Aroostook Republican Photo/Lisa Wilcox Dr. Carl Flynn, left, shares a moment with Dr. Arthur Selander, who donated enough money so that Flynn would agree to have his head shaved for Relay for Life, a fundraising event sponsored by the American Cancer Society. |
“It was very nice of him to donate,” Flynn added in all seriousness. “As doctors, we both see cancer and its devastating effects on a daily basis. We know how important continuing research is.”
Relay for Life is an annual event sponsored by the American Cancer Society. Community businesses and individuals form teams to raise money for cancer research by hosting several events before the grand finale, an all-night gathering of the teams with members taking turns walking or rocking in a chair during the entire event.
A highlight of the evening is a victory lap taken by cancer survivors. Luminaries that have been purchased to honor a cancer victim line the track.
This year’s Relay for Life event will begin at the Caribou High School track on the evening of Friday, May 31, and continue into the morning of Saturday, June 1.
For more information, visit www.relayforlife.org.
