- December 27, 2024
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Due to the pandemic, most of the world can agree that 2020 was a rough year. But for Fletcher’s Irish Pub owner Bill Fletcher, it was way better than 2019.
After a routine scan, in the summer of 2019, Fletcher received the news that he had tumors lining his abdomen, just two weeks before he was planning to leave on a family trip to Ireland. Maybe he could wait until after the trip to start cancer treatment?
The doctor said no. The trip was canceled.
Fletcher began aggressive chemotherapy treatment for about 10 weeks but kept it quiet around the community. One day in Indianapolis, he enjoyed his favorite shrimp cocktail, or, as he would say, his “final meal,” before his last surgery in October 2019.
Since then, Fletcher said he has lived a healthy lifestyle and continues to run his pub, but he felt a deep desire to help others in similar situations. He knew a Palm Coast family, the Fullings, who had a foundation called Live Like Cameron, to honor the memory of their son, and he asked if he could put on a fundraiser to help them. Fletcher’s first Shave for the Brave event took place a year ago; the second-annual event is at noon Dec. 12, at 393 W. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach.
When he introduced the concept of a live-shaving event to raise money for childhood cancer patients, eight of his loyal customers agreed to do it, too. The initial goal for 2020's Shave for the Brave was to raise $10,000, and the total swelled to $15,000. Fletcher asked his own children for ideas of how to spend the money, and they suggested something entertaining to do while in the hospital, such as Nintendo Switch game systems and iPads, so that’s what they did.
Whereas the inaugural Shave for the Brave relied on fundraising teams only, this year, business sponsors lined up to support the cause. As of Dec. 3, eight teams of four have already raised $26,000, and there are 43 sponsors. Fletcher is confident the total will exceed $30,000.
“It makes me feel proud, very humbled,” he said.
The family friendly event will have free ice cream for kids, and face painting. A $20 corn hole tournament will begin at noon on Dec. 12.
The main attraction — the live shaving — will begin at 2:30 p.m. and end around 5:30 p.m. Approximately 40 people will be getting shaved by a professional local barber, and anyone is welcome to shave the day of the event, for a $100 donation.
All of the money that is raised will be given to Volusia and Flagler families with children who are going fighting cancer, or to support other Live Like Cameron events.
A corner of his pub is dedicated to storing raffle donations from local businesses; some prizes are worth about $250. Raffle tickets will be sold at the event for $20.
“We were just throwing different ideas out there, and this one stuck,” Fletcher said of Shave for the Brave. “We're going to continue to do this event for many years to come.”
