This post was written by Hatchet reporter Lauren Grady.
About a dozen brothers of Kappa Sigma sported grimaces and smiles as they shaved their heads Monday, raising more than $11,000 for the American Cancer Society.
Marking the 10-year anniversary of his mother’s death from a rare form of nasal cancer, sophomore Justin Hyde asked his brothers to help him raise $10,000 for the American Cancer Society and shave their heads as part of the chapter’s ‘Shave Away Cancer’ event in University Yard.
After hearing of Hyde’s plans, he said his brothers immediately signed on and ended up raising more than $11,000 from family, friends and companies including $1,000 from Prudential Financial, Inc. Philips Shavers donated the razors that the brothers used.
“It’s just amazing. It feels so great that this many people are behind me,” Hyde said.
He was the first to shave his head, as his father, Robert Hyde took pictures and joked with other brothers of Kappa Sigma.
The sophomore established the Aida Hyde Foundation in honor of his mother on the first anniversary of her death.
The foundation raised $130,000 at a gala that year and donated the funds to the Monmouth Medical Center’s hospice and children’s charities that year – a request his mother made before she died. Friday’s event was the second largest event following the gala.
“His mom would be so proud. All his brothers are behind him. It’s a beautiful thing,” Robert Hyde said.