Earlier this year, SM East’s basketball teams adopted Tyler Regier, the 3-year-old son of Briarwood Elementary teacher Tina Regier, as their Pinky Swear All-Star for the 2015-16 season, committing to raise money in his honor as he fights leukemia.
At an all-school pep assembly Thursday, team coach Shawn Hair kicked off a major effort on Tyler’s behalf. Hair announced he would shave his head before the Jan. 29 rivalry game against Rockhurst if the school community raises $10,000 for families fighting pediatric cancer.
“I’m going to be Coach no-Hair,” he joked.
Hair kicked off the effort by donating $500 of his own money on the spot. He selected four of his athletes — freshman Phillip Cole, sophomore Matt McGannon, junior Trevor Thompson, and senior Luke Ehly — to serve as donation collectors for each class. Whichever collector’s class donates the most will give their representative the honor of being the “celebrity barber” to shave Hair’s head.
Nikol Terrill of the Pinky Swear Foundation told the students that Tyler had received a bone marrow transplant last week and was recovering. He’ll be in the hospital through February at least.
The fundraising campaign has gotten off at a sharp clip. As of this morning, the school community had already raised $3,250. You can find out more about the campaign and donate here.
