Defining Beauty for Charity

Two cheerleaders of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts shaved their heads before football fans to donate to cancer patients. This was in honor of the Colt’s leukemia stricken Coach Chuck Pagano. Representing the cancer research effort was the team’s mascot, Blue.

Blue pulled aside Megan M. and Crystal Ann after the third quarter of the game. Before 60,000 people in Lucas Oil Stadium, along with viewers of national television, their hair was removed as a request for donations for leukemia research.

Megan M. had responded to Blue’s Twitter challenge, which asked for a team cheerleader to volunteer for this nationally televised event. Crystal Ann also participated, holding Megan’s hand as their locks were sheared off.

The goal was to reach $10,000 in funds. The effort has raised over $22,000. In addition, Megan M. donated her ponytail to Locks of Love, a non-profit that provides hair pieces to children in the USA and Canada suffering hair loss due to medical conditions.

When asked about the experience by Fox News, Megan M. said, “It was really overwhelming. People were cheering so loud, and I could just feel the pride they had for our team, that we were able to do something like this. I think everyone hopes that they can a difference in their life and hopefully that’s what we did yesterday.”

According to the team’s site, the proceeds will go to Indiana University’s Health Simon Cancer Center for leukemia research.
All players of the Colts had gone bald for Coach Pagano earlier in the month. Many fans followed suit to encourage their team.

Megan M. has been the unofficial spokesperson to the social media. She has said, “I just shaved my head. These people [cancer patients] are going through the battle of their life and they’re really the ones who deserve all the praise.”