Nanaimo hair stylists host haircut-athon for the CatNap Society

Myles Straga (left) and Heather Fairley (right) are both offering haircuts at the fundraiser. Photo: Lauryn Mackenzie / CHLY 101.7fm

Nanaimo hair stylists are coming together to raise money for a local cat rescue group by hosting a hair cut-athon this weekend.

Hosted by Vivid Edge Salon & Spa and Rich 1 Beauty, hairstylists will be offering cash-only haircuts at $20 for short hair and $40 for long hair to raise money for the CatNap Society. CatNap, which stands for Cats Needing Aid and Protection, is a volunteer-based cat rescue that rescues abandoned or feral cats. They give the cats medical care and also offer fostering and adoption options for the cats.

Myles Straga, owner of Vivid Edge Salon & Spa and Heather Fairley, who works at Rich 1 Beauty, are both offering haircuts at the fundraiser. Straga said he has done other haircut-athons in the past including for AIDs Vancouver Island (AVI). AVI  supports people affected by HIV, HCV, or substance use to access support and services they may need.

Straga said before the COVID-19 pandemic, CatNap was able to help him with his cat, and wanted to find a way to give back to the society.

“They got my one cat neutered when I was going through a financial issue back in late 2019. They helped me out that way, and I paid $100 or something like that,” Straga said. “But with the changing times and the less and less money coming into them, they can't focus on that, so I really wanted to give back for what they did for me.”

Fairley said she found herself in a similar situation where she was looking for low-cost spaying services in Nanaimo but could not find any. She then was able to use a Victoria-based group the Itty Bitty Kitty Committee that works with a vet in Parksville.

“They literally helped me save my cat's life because she had had a really bad [kitten] litter, and we almost lost her,” Fairley said. “So anything I can do to help this, like I've been volunteering with them and we help with the CatNap Society.” 

Fairley said it is important to support groups like the CatNap Society as she has seen many people who were lonely during COVID, get a cat and now cannot afford to keep them.

“I think what's happened is a lot of people are not just actually giving them up, they're embarrassed because they can't afford them,” Fairley said. “So they're just letting them go on the street and so CatNap is having to go around and collect these strays that some have gone feral. It's just heartbreaking.”

Along with the money from the haircuts, Straga said they are also asking for donations of kitty litter, cat food, and toys to donate to the society.

“They see so many cats and it's an expensive thing, and that takes back from the ability the help that they can give if they're constantly like dishing out–I mean, let's be honest, the bag of cat food for one cat is expensive, let alone however many that they have and that they foster out,” Straga said.

They do not have a goal in mind but Straga said they are hoping to get as many people as possible to come in and get their hair cut. Although he does say, people do not need to get their hair cut to make a donation.

Straga said he is planning on continuing to host haircut-athons including for AVI and CatNap. He said hosting these events are great ways to raise money and to reconnect with people after the pandemic.

“It takes 20 minutes to a half hour to come in and get a trim–even less because we're not washing and blow drying, and all that money will go to helping out great nonprofits where we're all volunteering our time,” Straga said.

He said other hairstylists are able to join in on his cut-athons and that it’s important for stylists to give back to the community. 

“I want to bring our community together as hairdressers to give back, because without our community, without hair, we got nothing,” Straga said. “We can't make money without our community.”

The haircut-athon will be taking place from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 19th at 2145 Bowen Road in Nanaimo on a first come-first serve basis.

Funding Note: This story was produced with funding support from the Local Journalism Initiative, administered by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.