Sporting a lot less hair than at this time last week, Chilliwack’s Carolyn Putt continues to roll through the Kins’ Green Fighters Challenge.
Last Friday, Putt carried through on a pledge to have her head shaved, in support of her niece Lilee-Jean, who is battling cancer.
“I got up in the morning, put my hair up in a ponytail for the last time and went to the gym,” Putt said. “Friday afternoon, Lilee-Jean and her daddy joined us at the day program I work at, and we did the big head shave.”
It was a longer process than Putt expected, and a bit jarring watching her hair fall to the floor.
“Hacking through my ponytail with a pair of scissors was quite the process,” she laughed. “But it was great knowing it can be donated to make a wig for someone like LJ.”
Lilee-Jean helped out, and her reactions alone made the whole thing worthwhile.
“She kept saying, ‘You did it!’ and telling me I looked pretty or beautiful, and saying that now we look the same,” Putt said. “And to be honest, it looks better than I thought it would! Though, having a bald head is cold. I had to keep a toque on for the first couple days, and my first night trying to sleep was freezing.”
On Saturday, the Agassiz secondary school alumni basketball game was played.
Putt had been looking forward to it for months.
Geared up with a bright-pink sweatband, she warmed up with the rest of her 30-plus squad, then took to the court for the opening tipoff.
“We won the tip off and had the ball down at our end, and then, 17 seconds into the game I went down on my ankle,” Putt said. “It was just a sprain, but it meant I missed the game. It has also meant missing a good few days of going to the gym, or going hiking.”
That could prove costly to Putt in the end.
The Kin’s Green Fighters Challenge gathers 13 Lower Mainland contestants, challenging them to live healthier.
Fitness testing was held at the beginning, and fitness testing will be held again at the end. The one showing the most improvement will win a cruise for two to a sunny destination.
If Putt can’t maintain a workout schedule, that ship may sail without her.
But there’s a ways to go yet, and Putt continues to focus on the weekly challenges.
“This week’s challenge was to post on the Kin’s blog about a few of our favourite things since starting the challenge, like a new favourite snack or physical activity,” she said. “I went with weights as my activity, which is not something I thought I would enjoy. And for food, my new favourites are apple slices with peanut butter, and cottage cheese. The winner for the challenge was just decided by random draw.”
For more info, click online to kinsgreenfighers.com