Aerodynamic, for his cycle ride to raise funds for kids with cancer, Steven Sloat is also adding a positive spin to the new CAF grooming guidelines, which tighten up dress code policies pertaining to hair and beard length, starting on July 2. (Photo: K-J Millar/Shilo Stag Media)
K-J Millar, Shilo Stag Media
It was a clean shave for Captain Steven Sloat of CFB Shilo after raising more than $1563 for the Great Cycle Challenge when he had his ten-inch-beard braids cut off to support kids’ cancer treatments on July 2.
In a two-fold effort, Sloat’s fundraising makes a difference in the fight against kids’ cancer but also has a positive impact on the Canadian Armed Forces grooming guidelines. His actions, which included shaving off his beard and moustache, align with the new dress code that shortens beard length to a maximum of one inch.
In June, Sloat laid down the gauntlet in a promise to be aerodynamic and clean-shaven if $1,000 was generated for the kids’ cancer cause. He has surpassed that goal and wants to reach the next level of his pledge: to generate donations of $2,000 when he shaves his head bald. If $2,500 is reached before the Great Cycle Challenge in August, he will make a pact to shave his legs, too, he said.
“Having my beard shaved off this morning makes my face much lighter. I can feel it’s cooler,” said the military captain, who has been growing his beard for more than four years.
“I love my beard, ” he said. “July 2 is the day that the CAF mandated that beards be restricted back to one inch. So I decided to turn that into a positive by raising money for kids cancer.”
He said he rides in the Great Cycle Challenge every summer. This year, he plans to ride 1,000 km. He has already ridden more than 5,465 in the past seven years to support the fight against children’s cancer.
“This year I have started the fundraising early. I embraced the theme of making me more aerodynamic by shaving off my beard,” he said
Cycling the actual kilometres to reach his fundraising goals will start in Aug., he said. He would love to generate community support in the meantime.
To help the CFB Shilo CAF member and Capt. Sloat’s fundraising effort to support youth with cancer, donations can be made at: https://www.greatcyclechallenge.ca/Riders/StevenSloat
READ MORE: Aerodynamic shave for CFB Shilo Capt. to fundraise for Sick Kids
CFB Shilo Captain Steven Sloat has his renowned 10-inch beard braids trimmed off by his mom, Anne Sloat, to raise funds for kids’ cancer in the Great Cycle Challenge happening in August and to put a positive spoke on a tightened-up CAF dress and grooming policy starting July 2. (Photo: K-J Millar/Shilo Stag Media)
Captain Steven Sloat is clean-shaven and trimmed up on July 2 for his fundraising campaign to draw in money for the August Great Cycle Challenge for kids cancer. (Photo: K-J Millar/Shilo Stag Media)