Beard contest raises money for cancer research

It all started as a way to add some fun to the dreary days of February.

Ryan Bazon, a math teacher at Willowbrook High School in Villa Park, appropriated an idea he discovered during his time as a student teacher at Downers Grove South High School - Facial Hair February.

The rules were simple:

• Contestant teachers begin growing facial hair Feb. 1 and continue for a month.

• They may trim, design, dye and style their facial hair in any fashion they choose.

• At the end of the month, photos are taken of each contestant and displayed in the cafeteria, where students vote for their favorite bearded teacher. The teacher with the most votes wins.

But when Bazon launched the first contest at Willowbrook in 2007, he added a twist. In order to vote, students had to donate money to the American Cancer Society. It could be their pocket change or actual bills - whatever they felt comfortable giving.

Bazon was inspired by his father, Lawrence Bazon, and stepfather, A. Denison Weaver, who both were diagnosed with cancer and died within a month of each other that same year.

"There are so many people that this cause is important to," Bazon said. "Everybody has a story about it, so it's not just my family."

Initially, the first Facial Hair February raised about $300, with a handful of teachers - mostly Bazon's colleagues in the math and science departments - participating. By this winter, the contest grew to 20 teachers from several departments. And Willowbrook announced this month that students raised more than $975 in 2009.

"It's cool, because the kids like it and the faculty is starting to get into it, too," Bazon said. "It says a lot that they are willing to put themselves out there and do something stupid for charity."

The jump in contributions this year was due partially to fundraisers held in advance by Bazon and social studies teacher Brett Maguire with their individual classes. Bazon raised more than $190 with his students, while Maguire raised $284.

Bazon allowed students who gave extra contributions to decide how he should wear his beard. Ultimately, they voted for him to dye it hot pink on the day before all the teachers shaved, with cancer awareness ribbons designed in the beard.

"It's so simple, but everyone gets a smile out of it," he said.

The contest will continue next year and Bazon suspects it will continue to grow. Students not only like the fun of it, but many also have had cancer touch their lives.

"Most students throw in their change from the lunch line," he said, "but sometimes a student will place a $5 or $10 bill and say something like, 'My dad had cancer, too.'"