By Ashley Stewart

Owatonna People’s Press

BLOOMING PRAIRIE — Joe Haberman of Blooming Prairie will likely sport a new hairdo this summer.

At least that’s the hope of the Blooming Prairie Cancer Group.

Last week, Cheri Krejci, a member of the cancer group, announced that the cancer group had a “new and fun” fundraising opportunity for the community.

That opportunity includes the hair of the owner of Joe’s Repair.

Krejci said if the community raises $3,500 for the cancer group by July 1, Haberman won’t cut his hair until the annual cancer auction, which is Sept. 11 and 12 this year.

“It seems like a lot but if 35 people donated $100, it’d be done just like that,” she said. “Anything will help.”

Haberman said the idea came about after Colette and Tony Lea and other friends of his came across a high school graduation photo when he had an afro.

“It hasn’t been like that since high school, the early ‘80s,” he said.

And Haberman was hoping to keep it like that.

“They’ve been trying to get me to grow out my hair for years, but I said I wouldn’t do it in the summer because it’s too hot,” he said. “But they kept prodding, and finally I said if people pay me to do it, I’ll donate the money to the cancer group.”

But Haberman said he isn’t too thrilled about the possibility of having to grow out his hair.

“As long as it’s going to cancer, I’ll live with it,” he said.

Haberman said if the community raises $3,500, he will likely get a haircut before July 1.

“I usually cut it once a month to keep it manageable,” he said.

And every day the community gets closer to meeting its goal.

Krejci is “pretty optimistic” about it.

“I think Joe will have a full head of hair this summer,” she said.

And if the fundraiser raises more than $3,500, Haberman said “all the better” for the cancer group.

Krejci said Haberman’s hair will be cut during one of the cancer auction nights if the money is raised in June.

“He’ll be right there on stage,” she said. “It’ll be fun.”

Each year, the cancer group hosts events to raise money for the annual Eagles Cancer Telethon in Rochester that supports cancer research, the Hormel Institute in Austin and the community fund, which assists local families going through cancer.

Krejci said it’s cool to see members of the community come up with different ideas to help the cancer group each year like this one.

Checks or cash can be dropped off at the Cue Company, Joe’s Repair and Krejci Ford.

—Distributed by the Associated Press.