Pitt Meadows Mayor Deb Walters was asked to wield the clippers and cut off all of Hody Lye's shoulder-length pink locks in aid of charity this past weekend.

While Walters' initial hesitation was apparent, and Lye suffered a few nicks on her ear, the mayor quickly got in the groove and had a blast helping out at the eighth annual fundraising headshave for Athletes In Kind and the B.C. Childhood Cancer Parents Association.

"When Deb did the pass across the top of my head with the clippers, I asked her how many people she's wanted to do that to... the smile on her face was priceless," Lye said.

"I asked Mayor Walters to shave my head because I have great respect and admiration for her as a person and a friend, and her face was one that came to my mind when I asked myself who I'd like to have do the shaving this year," the bald woman later told The TIMES.

Lye had her head shaved for the first time last year, and volunteered along with nine others to have it shaved again this time around on Pitt Meadows Day.

"I'm not so self-conscious being bald this year," she said. "It also isn't such a shock when I look in the mirror, and I love it when people touch my head- and they all want to."

The headshaving event raises money to help families struggling financially because of childhood cancer.

And the annual headshave was again held outside Lye's massage business in Osprey Village on a sunny Saturday afternoon, Lye was among several who planned ahead to sacrifice her hair for the cause. Several others stepped up unexpectedly during the event.

Among those who joined Lye in the makeshift stylist's chair was seven-year-old Davis Balla and his father D'Arcy, seven-year-old Cole Ackerman and his father Darryl, 11-year-old Max Greaves, eight-year-old Harry Buckley and his father James, Jim Milburn (otherwise known as Dilly the Clown), and Jordan Mehl.

Donations are still trickling in, but thus far coming up a little light following the actual headshaving.

While Lye reported $3,400 in cash and cheques were collected at the event or online, she's hopeful to surpass last year's $5,000 during the next few weeks.

"Hopefully we get to that this year, when all the numbers come in," said Lye, who is stepping down as chair of the headshave committee, turning the gavel over to her seven-year-old friend and fellow baldy Davis Balla, who joined her last year in shaving his head for the first time.

"Davis wants to continue for many years to come," Lye said. "We appointed him president of the headshave committee, and I will support him in organizing the event for as long as he wants to be involved."

Asked if she'll be participating next year, Lye hesitated: "I won't say that I'll never go bald again, though I'll take the opportunity to let it grow, and not shave next year."

But that said, she's remains committed to the cause and will continue to help raise money.

"I do this to support charities that serve people in great need," Lye said. "It is wonderful to be a part of something bigger than myself. For me to not have hair is a small sacrifice..."

Donations for the AIK fundraiser can still be made at www.athletesinkind.com.

rhooper@mrtimes.com