Students Sharing Through Shearing

ST. LEO - When it comes to raising money for a charity, Brandon Cooke went further than most.

While those around him had odd designs shaved into their heads at Saint Leo University this week, Cooke had wax smeared across his chest before countless follicles were ripped from his skin.

"It wasn't the fact of the hair being pulled off, but when the guy put the wax on, it wasn't hot enough," said Cooke, 20, a sports business major. "He was spreading it on with his hands, and it was pulling my hair.

"On a scale of one to 10, the pain was maybe a four."

Cooke was one of about 20 people who were shaved, waxed or otherwise relieved of hair Tuesday during the third annual Shave SAE for Charity event, held in the university's new student activities center. SAE stands for Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Cooke's fraternity.

Tuesday's fundraiser garnered about $3,500 for the Children's Miracle Network.

Although the fraternity didn't meet its $5,000 goal, it has raised increasing amounts every year, said Ryan Regensdorfer, a 21-year-old accounting and business management major who has been involved with the fundraiser since its inception. He said the first effort raised about $700, and about $1,500 was raised last year. "We're just trying for more improvements each year," Regensdorfer said.

The event was sponsored in part by the university and Thamir Kaddouri, a Saint Leo alumnus who runs a Tampa law firm.

This year, about 200 people bid for the opportunity to shave a fraternity member's head - or wax his chest.

"I went for $340," Regensdorfer said. "A group of five bid on me, and that group shaved whatever it wanted on my head. Basically, all my hair is gone, except for the stripes down the middle of my head. They're like racing stripes. I walked around today with my head like that.

"One guy had his back and chest waxed. They usually just shave their heads."

It may be too soon for Cooke to decide whether his head will be shaved or his chest waxed next year.

"Last year, I had my head shaved, and I was going to do that this year, but I have a wedding to go to," he said. "Plus, I work at Saddlebrook Resort, and I'm not allowed to have a shaved head."