Last year, Shave for the Brave raised more than $50,000 for the Quad Cities Honor Flight, sending 100 veterans to Washington D.C. The event was tied into The Laser’s Big Band BBQ.
This year, the fundraiser that sees professional barbers shave people’s overgrown beards for charity is breaking out into it’s own festival. Starting at 1 p.m. June 18, a beard contest will be held in the Orpheum Theatre before the festivities move to the parking lot across from the Corner Connection.
From 3 p.m. to the late evening, people will be shaved, live music will be played and food, drinks and carnival games will be available. A bike show is planned at the same time. A portion of Simmons Street will be blocked off.
Crystal Wilson with Shave for the Brave tells Galesburg’s Morning News on WGIL the event is a ton fun.
“It’s so much fun to be able to have the family and friends show up to watch that person get shaved, and that’s what we really want to focus on, obviously,” she says. “And, we’re doing this for the veterans to send as many as we can to Washington D.C. on their flight.”
James Purl, who also volunteers with Shave for the Brave, says the charity organization all started over a beer in 2014.
“It said, ‘if we can raise $1,000, I’ll shave my beard off,'” Purl says. “And she (Wilson) put it on Facebook, and it went nuts.”
It has only gained steam since then.
Those who want to have their beard shaved for the event need to raise $100 for the Honor Flight. Entry in the beard contest is $15.
