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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Jason DeBoard punched a hole through an opaque garbage bag, pulled it over his torso like a smock, and sat while his mom sheared his curly, pink-dyed locks to stubble.</p><p>A snippet of dialogue emerged from bystanders on Wilkes University&#8217;s Fenner Quadrangle.</p><p>&#8220;Are you doing the eyebrows this year, Jason?&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;His mom won&#8217;t let him.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;Good!&#8221;</p><p>This is the second year DeBoard, a junior from Avoca, organized an event in which students (and anyone else interested) volunteer to get a buzz cut, donate some money, and generate public awareness about breast cancer.</p><p>Last year DeBoard went beyond the pate: &#8220;I shaved my head <em>and</em> eyebrows.&#8221;</p><p>That led to more than curious gazes. Some people asked if he was sick &#8220;and offered to carry my books. Teachers offered me test accommodations. This year &#8220;Mom won&#8217;t let me shave my eyebrows.&#8221;</p><p>The event raised about $600 last year, and DeBoard expected as much Tuesday. It raised about $200 from pre-orders for pink T-shirts.</p><p>DeBoard organized the event under the auspices of the school&#8217;s American Medical Student Association chapter (he&#8217;s a double major in biology and neuroscience). Money raised is divvied to the association and to the Medical Oncology Associates Prescription Assistance Fund in Kingston.</p><p>Senior Jason Aristizabal from Landsdale was the first to take a seat for the shearing, clipped by his fiance, Sam Cotto.</p><p>Senior Neil Murphy of Pittston sat next to him and let DeBoard begin by buzzing an &#8220;X&#8221; on top of his head. &#8220;I feel like I&#8217;m in &#8216;One Flew Over the Cuckoo&#8217;s Nest,&#8217;&#8221; Murphy said, referring to the book and movie about a psychiatric ward that practices electroconvulsive therapy and lobotomy.</p><p>DeBoard took a seat next, his pink-dyed hair matching his pink &#8220;We can beat this together&#8221; shirt. His mom decided to do the honors, beginning by shaving a representation of the pink ribbon emblematic of breast cancer awareness into the back of his locks.</p><p>This was more than symbolism for both of them.</p><p>DeBoard recounted his mother&#8217;s diagnosis with breast cancer when he was in ninth grade. &#8220;She&#8217;s six years in remission,&#8221; he noted, adding that the experience was one impetus for organizing the event.</p><p>Lynn M. DeBoard methodically took turns shaving one side of her son&#8217;s head, then another, moving from ears up, As she closed in on a Mohawk look, her son made two observations.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;m feeling the breeze!&#8221; he smiled as the wind brushed the newly-bared sides of his head.</p><p>&#8220;These garbage bags are useless,&#8221; He added, noting he could feel his hair falling onto his neck and slipping under his shirt &#8212; and redefining the meaning of having a hairy back.</p><p>Hey, it&#8217;s for a good cause.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Jason DeBoard shaves friend Neil Murphy&#8217;s hair during the &#8216;Clips for Cancer&#8217; breast cancer fundraiser at Wilkes University on Tuesday to kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month. DeBoard launched the annual fundraiser after seeing his mom battle the disease six years ago.  </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_TTL100219Hair2.jpg</photo0><caption0>Jason DeBoard shaves friend Neil Murphy&#8217;s hair during the &#8216;Clips for Cancer&#8217; breast cancer fundraiser at Wilkes University on Tuesday to kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month. DeBoard launched the annual fundraiser after seeing his mom battle the disease six years ago.  </caption0><photoCredit0>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_TTL100219Hair5.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Those not ready to go hairless had the option of spraying it pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_TTL100219Hair5.jpg</photo1><caption1>Those not ready to go hairless had the option of spraying it pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. </caption1><photoCredit1>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_TTL100219Hair4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Jason DeBoard shaves a ribbon into Neil Murphy&#8217;s hair. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_TTL100219Hair4.jpg</photo2><caption2>Jason DeBoard shaves a ribbon into Neil Murphy&#8217;s hair. </caption2><photoCredit2>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_TTL100219Hair3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Sam Cotto clips fiance Jason Aristizabal&#8217;s hair on Tuesday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_TTL100219Hair3.jpg</photo3><caption3>Sam Cotto clips fiance Jason Aristizabal&#8217;s hair on Tuesday. </caption3><photoCredit3>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_TTL100219Hair1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Lynn M. DeBoard shaves son Jason DeBoard&#8217;s pink hair during the &#8216;Clips for Cancer&#8217; breast cancer fundraiser at Wilkes University on Tuesday.  </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_TTL100219Hair1.jpg</photo4><caption4>Lynn M. DeBoard shaves son Jason DeBoard&#8217;s pink hair during the &#8216;Clips for Cancer&#8217; breast cancer fundraiser at Wilkes University on Tuesday.  </caption4><photoCredit4>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit4></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Wilkes University junior organizes buzz cut breast cancer fundraiser</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Mark Guydish</p><p>mguydish@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div>