Arnold Schellenberg will shave off his long, teal hair if Team Mars can raise $8,000 or more for ovarian cancer research. (Facebook/Rural Municipality of Nipawin No. 487)

By Aaron Schulze

Walk of Hope

R.M. of Nipawin councillor fundraising for ovarian cancer research in honour of his daughter

Sep 3, 2019 | 3:28 PM

In 2011, Arnold Schellenberg’s daughter Marcie lost her battle with ovarian cancer.

Since the tragic loss of his daughter, the R.M. of Nipawin councillor and his family participated in the Ovarian Cancer Canada Walk of Hope every year in Saskatoon, except for 2018 due to his son’s wedding.

Because the Schellenberg’s weren’t able to walk in 2018, Arnold wanted to fundraise more for ovarian cancer research and raise more awareness to the Walk of Hope.

“My son and his wife came up with the idea of doing a Slo-Pitch tournament that got it all started and we thought we’d do other things,” Schellenberg said. “At $3,000 [my son and I would] dye our hair teal, at $5,000 we’d brush cut, and at $8,000 we’d shave it.”

Teal is the colour chosen to represent ovarian cancer.

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Schellenberg said the R.M. of Nipawin and surrounding communities have been very generous. On Aug. 22, Team Mars – Schellenberg’s team named after Marcie’s nickname ‘Mars’ – announced they raised $5,000 which means he and his son will get the brush cut, but he’s hoping to raise even beyond their $8,000 goal.

“They’ve been bugging me about my mustache and I said if we hit $15,000 I would cut it,” Schellenberg laughed. “I’ve never cut the mustache since I started growing it, so I made that a little higher, but nothing is impossible. It would feel really weird but I’ll do it for my daughter. She’s watching over us in heaven and seeing what we’re doing. She’s our guiding rock.”

Team Mars is accepting pledges until Friday, Sept. 6 on Ovarian Cancer Canada Walk of Hope’s website and in person at Bunge in Nipawin.

Schellenberg said he and his son will get their haircuts before the Walk of Hope begins on Sunday, Sept. 8 in Saskatoon.

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aaron.schulze@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @SchulzePANow