Nearly 80 people registered for Members CU’s second annual Wig Walk, a 2.5 walk/fun run benefiting the Wig Bank of Caldwell County that took place on Saturday, May 11th along the Lenoir Greenway. The walk brought in over $4,000 for the Wig Bank, a non profit cancer services center that provides prosthetic wigs for cancer patients, promotes the importance of cancer screenings, and provides funds to cancer patients for transportation to cancer treatment centers.
David Icard, along with cofounder Alicia Stanislaw, opened the doors to the Wig Bank in 2001. Since then, the services offered to their community have expanded to include support groups such as Restorative Yoga, Arm in Arm and Just Us Guys.
"The Wig Bank provides a valuable service to Caldwell County," remarked Jack V. Braswell, Jr., President/CEO of Members Credit Union. "Since the Wig Bank is operated by volunteers without any paid employees it’s important that the community supports them, and judging from the response to the Wig Walk from the community, it’s safe to say the Wig Bank has Caldwell County’s support."
Participants in the Wig Walk were encouraged to wear costume wigs during the 2.5-mile trek on the Lenoir Greenway that began at the United Presbyterian Church. Once participants finished their journey and returned to home base, a wig contest was held and the winner was decided by applause.
During the months leading up to the Wig Walk event, additional funds were raised through T-shirt sponsorships that were sold for $100 each. T-shirt sponsors honored friends and family who have battled cancer by having their name printed on the back of the Wig Walk T-shirt. These T-shirts were given out to walkers who registered for the event.
This year the Wig Walk had three corporate sponsors including McCreary Cancer Center, Lenoir HealthCare and the News-Topic. Several local schools and clubs also participated in the event. Members of the Gamewell Girls Running Club from Gamewell Elementary School ran the 2.5 miles and the Burke County 4H-Club volunteered to cheer people on during the walk while handing out water at the halfway point of the course. As walkers and runners passed by the halfway point they were given a chance to spin the wheel and if the wheel landed on a dollar amount, Eric Stiff, Members Credit Union’s VP of Marketing, donated that amount to the Wig Bank. The wheel helped bring in an extra $50.
Thanks to corporate sponsors and the community Members CU raised $4,345. 100% of the proceeds from the 2013 Wig Walk were donated to the Wig Bank. Members CU plans to expand the Wig Walk event to Catawba County in September to help raise funds for the Catawba County Wig Bank.
Click here to read the story printed in the Lenoir News-Topic.
[gallery columns="3" link="file" ids="1535,1539,1537,1536,1545"]
# # #
About the Wig Bank of Caldwell County
The Wig Bank of Caldwell County was formed after founders David Icard, a salon owner, and Alicia Stanislaw, a registered nurse, discussed the lack of support for cancer patients who were facing the loss of hair, the change of skin texture, and other physical and emotional effects of treatments. With a bag of donated wigs and a desire to offer advice and assistance, Icard and Stanislaw secured a space, enlisted volunteer help, and through mostly word-of-mouth advertisement, opened The Wig Bank of Caldwell County. The Wig Bank’s inviting home allows cancer patients to receive services in a non-clinical atmosphere. www.wigbank.org
