Local Businessman Pledges Up to $10,000 in Cancer Fight

A local businessman is pledging up to $10,000 in the fight against cancer, and he has a unique plan to help.

(ELIZABETH WEIDNER DURING A COLLECTION EFFORT ON BEHALF OF CHILD PATIENTS AT A ST. LOUIS HOSPITAL)

Nate Thompson has challenged those who are willing to shave their heads. He is paying $50 per male and $200 per female to shave their head. Thompson made the pledge in support of 16-year-old Elizabeth Weidner, the Teutopolis High School student who has been battling cancer the past four years.

Thompson's offer is open until this Friday, the 14th, which is Valentine's Day. He has encouraged those who want to take the challenge to use his Facebook pledge on his timeline or via Facebook Messenger.to contact him.

The pledge comes in advance of a fundraiser this Sunday, the 16th, at the Orchard Inn. The event is known as A Queen's Fight, but also as "Bold, Beautiful and Bald". The event will run from 2 to 6 pm. Members of the Effingham County community are reportedly gathering at the event and will have their heads shaved for the highest bidder.

Elizabeth is in Nate Thompson's son's class at T-Town. He has admired the fight exhibited by Elizabeth, and the pledge of funds was how he chose to get involved. The challenge is open to grade school and high school students at Teutopolis, Effingham and St. Anthony schools.

Thompson does have one condition; participants cannot have a guard on the clippers; he doesn't want the participants to be able to part their hair once the haircut is finished.