NEW BETHLEHEM, Pa. (EYT) — Hayden “Tuffy” Smith was four years old when his family told him that he needed to have a yard sale to get rid of some of the many items he had accumulated over his first four years of life. Tuffy did indeed have that yard sale and decided to do something very special with the money.

Tuffy’s grandmother, Mary Benton, remembers Tuffy asking her if he could give the proceeds from his sale to a local woman who was battling cancer. At the conclusion of the yard sale, he did just that.

Joining S&T Bank’s Relay For Life team for the first time, Tuffy (now a third grader at Redbank Valley Intermediate School), went back to work raising money for cancer patients. Together, he and his grandmother came up with the idea of asking local men from the Redbank Valley community to be offered up on an auction block where the public could place bids to cut their hair any way that the winning bidder chose.

Benton explained that the inspiration for the unique fundraiser came from a local New Bethlehem boy who had battled cancer in the past.

“We were thinking of a creative way to raise money this year and I thought about how this boy had friends who all shaved their head for moral support,” Benton explained. “We thought that if people could do it for moral support, why not see if it could be done for financial support.”

So Tuffy and his grandma took to the streets of New Bethlehem last month, literally stopping and asking anyone they came across if they would be willing to be offered up on the auction block. They also sought support from New Bethlehem businesses to be “Head Sponsors.” Each business could sponsor the head of every individual that would be offered on the auction block.

When it was all said and done, Tuffy had rounded up the support of a police chief, a dentist, a teacher, and a local elected official among many others. Tuffy himself also offered to be auctioned off.

All fifteen of the victims/volunteers gathered at Oakland Church of God in Distant on Sunday to be auctioned off to the public.

Bidding started at $10 for all the men with each bid increasing in $5 increments. New Bethlehem Police Chief, Scott Ryan brought in the most bids as his locks of hair were auctioned for $135.

Once each auction was over, the winner came and claimed their prize by walking their “client” into another room where they had a whole multitude of hair cutting supplies at their disposal. While many went for the clippers, there were stencils such as cancer ribbons and lightning bolts available to really add some pizzazz to the hairstyles. Byers Barber Shop and Debz Twisted Scizzors were also on hand to provide help with the cutting.

Laughter rang through the gym at the church as hair fell to the ground and crazy hairstyles emerged. Family members got opportunities to cut other family members hair. Children laughed at making adults bald. Even Tuffy’s own teacher showed up to buy his head of hair which she very much enjoyed cutting.

Tuffy gets his turn under the clippers. (Photo courtesy of RedbankValley.org)

Once all of the cutting was complete, each volunteer took part in a “Parade of Champions” for a panel of judges to determine who had the best “do.” Judges were made up of cancer survivors and their family members.

Shirey Overhead Door owner, Guy Magagnotti, placed first while Matt Smith won “Best of Show.”

With the auction and the silent auction, Tuffy’s goal was to raise $265.

He raised more than $1,600.

“We could not be more happy with the event and the support that we received,” Benton added with excitement following the event. “It was a different fundraiser but everyone seemed to have so much fun.”

Benton added that half of the proceeds will go towards S&T Bank’s Relay for Life team while the other half will go to Jan McGarrity. McGarrity is a New Bethlehem resident who is currently battling cancer herself.

Who says you have to be big to do big things?

Hats (or should we say hair) off to you, Tuffy.

Photo courtesy of RedbankValley.org.

Photo courtesy of RedbankValley.org.