Image Credit: Cutober / Facebook

By Dylana Kneeshaw

CUTOBER 2020

‘Cutober’ fundraising for domestic violence victim supports and mental health programs in Kamloops

Oct 11, 2020 | 9:19 AM

KAMLOOPS — A Kamloops man is turning a creative haircut into a fundraiser for domestic abuse victims during the pandemic.

Nathaniel Martin gave his 6-year-old daughter free rein over his hair yesterday (Oct. 10), in the hopes of raising money for non-profit organizations specializing in mental health and domestic violence victim supports.

The fundraiser has been aptly named ‘Cutober’, and Martin says every dollar raised will buy one minute of him keeping the haircut. Proceeds gathered this month will be given to three non-profits in the local region for mental health programs and domestic violence victim supports.

“My union, the steelworkers up at Highland Valley Copper got right behind me on this. So we’re doing donations through payroll deductions, and those funds will go to the Canadian Mental Health Association and the Kamloops Sexual Assault and Counselling Centre (KSACC),” he explains, “And the GoFundMe page I set up will go straight to the United Way (Thompson Nicola Cariboo).”

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Martin says he was inspired to help after researching into a rise of domestic violence throughout the country during the pandemic.

“After talking to the Kamloops Sexual Assault Centre, they confirmed the same pattern. Initially there was a drop in calls, but that was because people couldn’t escape their violent partners, or have a safe chance make phone calls, or see other friends who have entered the lock down,” he explains, “But after the fact once things were starting to lighten up and the lock down was lifted, people were coming out and the rates of violence had escalated in these homes.”

Nearing the end of his haircut, Nathaniel Martin speaks with CFJC Today over the phone (Image Credit: Nathaniel Martin)

Martin says he decided to start Cutober on the 10th of the month, as yesterday was International Mental Health Awareness Day. November is also Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and Martin says he’s hopeful the donations will be ready to be put to use by that time.

Through speaking with the KSACC, Martin learned that mental health decline and domestic abuse can go hand-in-hand, and wanted to ensure the money was spread out between organizations who can identify what areas its needed in.

“It’s an unfortunate pairing,” he says, “So we’re going to try and tackle this and raise awareness. And hopefully if this works out, we’ll do this again next year.”

To donate online and try to match the money raised at Highland Valley Copper, Cutober’s GoFundMe page can be accessed here.

Image Credit: Cutober / Facebook