San Gabriel Valley : Firefighters Use Their Heads to Help Cancer-Stricken Boy

Covina firefighters got their heads shaved Monday to show support and kick off a fund-raising campaign for their captain’s 5-year-old son, who lost his hair after undergoing surgery and chemotherapy for brain cancer.

Kenny McKellar felt like one of crowd as he shaved off the hair of his dad, Capt. Eric McKellar.

“Oh, yeah!” shouted Kenny from behind his surgical mask as, with the help of a barber, he sliced away the mop of firefighter and family friend Kent Chatfield.

Two dozen Covina firefighters, including Chief Ken Lavoie, volunteered for the premature hair loss to alleviate Kenny’s fears.

“Kenny’s concern was if he went to Disneyland, Mickey Mouse wouldn’t shake hands with him because of his hair,” said Eric McKellar of his son, who has been too sick to make the trip.

The fund-raising campaign will help Eric and Jeanne McKellar of Glendora pay for expenses that are not covered by medical insurance, Chatfield said. Firefighters and city staff held a bake sale Friday. Many of them are donating vacation time so Eric McKellar can be with his son, who comes home from the hospital tomorrow.

“They are our extended family. I am so thankful to them and the people at City of Hope hospital,” McKellar said. Since Kenny’s illness surfaced in February, he has spent much of the time at the City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte battling the side effects of chemotherapy.

In this small, tightknit community, Covina Mayor Linda Sarver said, “everyone is praying for Kenny.”

Donations to help pay for the child’s treatments can be sent to the Kenny McKellar Emergency Fund, c/o Covina Fire Department, 400 N. Citrus Ave., Covina 91723, or call (818) 858-5507.