Beauticians at Head Quarters beauty shop cut hair on Saturday to benefit Great Bend cancer victim Annetta Mermis. Mermis, a customer at the business, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in April.
The beauticians plan to make this an annual event to benefit someone in the area with cancer. Called the Roger Hickey Memorial Fundraiser, it will be held annually the second Saturday in August.
“It’s pretty overwelming. I didn’t expect this,” said Mermis. “It’s undescribable. I only hope some day in the future I can pay it forward.”
Mermis, 34, after undergoing chemotherapy, recently had surgery to remove the tumor and the bone it was on in her calf. The cancer appears to be gone, but she will undergo two to five more rounds of chemotherapy.
The mother of four children, Annetta said that she has made it through the experience by having a great attitude.
The fundraiser was the idea of Janelle Hickey who lost her husband to cancer a year ago in April.
“She (Hickey) decided we need to do something for Annetta,” said Kim Oberle who also works at Head Quarters. “As we started planning, it just got bigger with more and more things going on. We’re doing this every year. We’ll pick someone different (to benefit) every year.”
Those donating every dollar of the haircuts, wax or style were Janelle Hickey, Brenda Ramey, Karen Riedl, Tara Brown, Kim Oberle, Angi Seifert and former stylist Christy Huslig. Huslig is the mother of Dade Cannon who recently underwent cancer treatment.
Customer Alyssa Reed said, “My mom had cancer. I’ve had three family members who had cancer. I’m happy to support this.”
In addition to the proceeds from the beauticians, funds from the hot dog feed, raffle of Scensi products, and the commissions from the sale of jewelry, candles and purses will all go to Mermis.