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LRS holds haircut fundraiser to support Airman

  • Published
  • By Samuel King Jr.
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  For many of the Airmen and civilians of the 96th Fuels Management Flight, the work week of Nov. 2 ended with the sounds of an electric razor and occasional laughter.

That's because, Master Sgt. Catherine Holland was handing out haircuts to raise money for the Combined Federal Campaign charity, the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Her flight and members of the 96th Logistics Readiness Squadron wanted to show their support for her and raise money for a good cause. The cause - the fight against breast cancer -- is a battle Holland struggled with every day since Aug. 1, when she was diagnosed with Stage 2 triple negative cancer.

"This event is indicative of the support I've received from my squadron and flight from day one," said Holland, an 18-year veteran and Pensacola native. "They have made my fight an easy one because I know there is not one person I cannot call any time of the day or night should I need anything.

People donated money along with a vote for a LRS or fuels member to receive a new hair style. The top vote-getters agreed to have their heads shaved by first-time barber, Holland. Lt. Col. Rick Hughes, the LRS commander, Dr. Kevin Partlow, Joseph Proctor and Master Sgt. William Murphy were the lucky recipients.

"It was an honor to let her shave our heads and to share a little laughter with her," said Partlow, the civilian deputy for LRS. "(MSgt) Holland is an outstanding Airman, and she's been through so much in these last few months. We wanted her to know we are supporting her and she doesn't have to fight this battle alone. Seeing her smile as she cut our hair was well worth it."

Holland, the section chief for the fuels information service center, said she was so grateful for the $722 collected, but even more thankful for the awareness the event raised.

"People think about things more when they hit closer to home," she said. "I have no family history of breast cancer and I just hope people realize the importance of self exams and mammograms starting at age 40, because this disease can happen to anyone. My cancer was found through a self exam, so they do work."

On Aug. 24, Holland had a double mastectomy, but due to the aggressiveness of her type of cancer, she said there's no guarantee all the cancer cells have been removed. On Nov. 6, she undergoes her third round of chemotherapy. Holland also said she feels her doctors and nurses here are the reason she's doing so well.

"They are amazing and I would not choose to be treated anywhere, but Eglin, if given the opportunity," said Holland.

As for her time behind the blades, she said she realized being a stylist will never be her second career.

"Not only was I nervous about cutting someone's ear off, I needed a wingman (Chief Master Sgt. Curtis Palmer) to clean up my 'clients' when I was done so they didn't look like cancer patients themselves," she said.