ROCKLAND - Natalie Lindahl is a freshman at Camden Hills Regional High School, a young woman with long blond hair. That all changed, however, May 3, with a visit to Dark Harbor Barber Company in Rockland. 

Natalie made a decision to shave for head to help raise awareness for cancer. And she did so with her mother Kerin’s support.  

“I am extremely lucky to have the hair I do, and have always been told that,” she said. “The same as many cancer patients who don’t/didn’t have a choice to keep their hair.” 

Her goal was to raise $2,222.00 for the California-based St. Baldrick’s Foundation, which funds cancer research all over the globe. 

Natalie lost her father to cancer when she was 11. 

“This month it will be three years without him,” she said. “I feel as if this is a way I can reach out to more people and the community around me for a chance to once again bring awareness to cancer.” 

Her barber was Sam Weldon, owner of Dark Harbor Barber Company. Natalie was a little nervous as she sat down in the chair taking a last look at her blond locks in the mirror, but her resolve was absolute.

Weldon said, “buckle up dude, cause here we go.”  

She had her mother, and her mother’s friend, Jessie Odgren, and Ellen Curtis in attendance. Her brother, Mitchell Lindahl, and three of her friends from school, Arria Doll, Korsen Landfair, and Grace Moody were there, as well. All cheered her on. 

It was a light-hearted start as Natalie said, “first I just want you to do a strip down the middle.”  

She was all smiles as the hair feel off around her and the clippers buzzed away.  

“I feel really good about doing this,” she said. “My advice to anyone is to just do it.”

Kerin Lindahl was proud of her daughter.  

“This was all her idea,” she said. “I think it is just amazing. We’ve started fundraising around the beginning of April and the response has been great.” 

As of this writing they have raised $3,319.

Natalie explained how she happened to choose this particular barber shop for the event.

“I came here for an undercut and I really liked them,” she said.  “It’s a very cool barber shop.”  

Weldon has been in the Midcoast for almost 18 months. He apprenticed in the Portland area and has been a barber for about eight years. I noticed that he is free in his use of a straight razor for cuts and trims.  

“I like to use a straight razor,” he said. “I think it’s the mark of a real barber shop.”  

Weldon had no idea the buzz cuts today were for St. Baldrick’s and to raise cancer awareness. Finishing Natalie’s cut he refused to charge her and took out his checkbook to make his own donation.  

“As much as it is a sad reality,” Natalie stated on her St. Baldrick’s webpage, “we can all make an effort to help those it affects. St. Baldrick’s is an amazing foundation, that has raised an incredible amount of money to support those with cancer.” 

“They focus on children’s cancer and raising awareness and money for such. I know many other people who have been affected by cancer, or had cancer. It means so much to have support and anything helps.”  

To donate to Natalie’s cause go here: https://www.stbaldricks.org/donate/participant/1102716/2022?amount=50&donation_type=donate_once