Hoffman Estates man who lost home, dogs in fire donates hair

Despite the recent loss of his home and his two dogs during a fire last month, Hoffman Estates resident Dennis Matus is willing to give up one of the few things he still has — and loves — to help others.

Matus and his niece, Beth Pfeiffer of Chicago, are getting all their hair shaved off Saturday to raise money for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation in honor of a 13-year-old family friend who is fighting a rare form of cancer.

Pfeiffer said her uncle loves his hairdo, which she described as a mullet.

“He’s really into his hair,” she said with a laugh. “It’s going to be harder for him (to go bald), I think, than me.”

She said he decided to take part in the event at Superdawg Drive-In in Wheeling partly because he lost a bet, but also because he wanted to stand in solidarity with childhood cancer patients.

Pfeiffer said since the house fire on May 4, her uncle has been living with family and spending a lot of time sorting though insurance paperwork.

“He said it could always have been worse,” she said. “I think he’s handled it really well. It kind of teaches you to put things in perspective.”

Pfeiffer said when a St. Baldrick’s representative called Matus for an update on the event she was shocked to hear about the devastating fire.

“She said to him, ‘Oh, well let’s reschedule yours, or do you still want to do this?’” Pfeiffer said, adding that the representative was shocked to hear her uncle’s answer.

Pfeiffer also is impressed with her uncle’s selflessness.

“In my mind, I was like you lost everything and you still want to lose your hair? That’s dedication.”

To make a donation visit Beth Pfeiffer’s page at StBaldricks.org.