Loretta Palazzo recalls her first impressions of Re Sheppard.
"All those years ago, she popped into Boomerang looking for a job," says Palazzo, the owner of the clothing store on Main Street. "I noticed right away that she is artistic, she was dressed so cool. Soft spoken, super kind. That's how we became friends."
Some people know Sheppard as a talented rock star musician who plays bass guitar. Other people know her from work at New England Center for Circus Arts as a circus performer. Still others know her as an inspired visual artist.
"She does it all," Palazzo says with a wide smile. "Re has also been my hairdresser for years."
Her voice drops.
"That is, until she got sick."
Sheppard, who is in her early 50s, was first diagnosed with a very-slow-growing lymphoma 10 years ago. She became ill again in the winter of 2022, but it took months for doctors to discover that the lymphoma had returned - this time, a very aggressive version.
Six rounds of chemotherapy failed to kill the cancer. Since then, she's received another round of a different chemotherapy, and she is continuing treatment to control the growth of the tumor until they can get her into another form of cancer therapy.
Sheppard has no sense of the trajectory of the treatment or when she might expect her health to return.
"All of her friends thought she'd be done with chemotherapy in February," Palazzo says, "but as of this past couple of weeks, the tumor has continued to grow."
Palazzo notes that "people who are ill don't qualify for disability insurance until they are done with cancer treatment."
When Sheppard could no longer earn a living, Palazzo started a GoFundMe account for her.
"How do people live without money while they are going through cancer treatment?" Palazzo wonders aloud.
Enter local hair stylist Joanna Terry Gabriel, who has organized and is heading the fundraising for what she and her friends have named the Leap Day Cut-a-thon Fundraiser for Re.
This Thursday, Feb. 29, Leap Year Day, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., some local hairdressers, barbers and independent stylists will be available for walk-in haircuts by donation, at Gabriel's salon, Natural Beauty, in Guilford.
"When you are an independent hair stylist, as Re and I are, you don't have the benefits of working for a big company. If you don't work, you don't get paid," says Gabriel, who has owned her salon for 15 years.
"We all own our own businesses, and we work alone," she says. "What would anyone of us do in the same situation?"
Gabriel met Sheppard when she was doing hair and makeup for a local production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch in 2010.
"Re was one of the performers, for two years running, playing the second lead in the production," she remembers. "We hit it off right away."
On hand at her studio at 475C Coolidge Hwy, will be Gabriel and barber Simon Miller, whose shop, Rust Tonsorium, recently moved from downtown Brattleboro to share space in Gabriel's shop.
From 9 to noon, P'tricia Wyse (of P'Tricia, her salon on Flat Street), will also be joining in the fun. She will be offering three one-hour haircuts.
Gabriel is excited how "the community has shown an outpouring of love for Re. Not only are we doing haircuts by donation, local photographer Ezra Distler will also have his photo booth set up from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for photo shoots by donation."
"We are so excited to raise money for Re. So many people are reaching out to this stellar human being."
In addition to haircuts, a haircut raffle will offer a $50 Boomerang gift certificate, an original piece by local artist Remi Brooks, and haircuts that other local stylists have donated. Tickets are available for $5, or five for $20.
"But that's not all," says Gabriel, breathless with positive energy for her friend. "There are other stylists and salons who are considering participating as well. Some will donate some of the proceeds from haircuts in their own salons that day."
She adds that "the wonderful people at the Guilford Country Store" next door will be providing treats.
"Every day more and more people are joining the fundraiser," she says. "So far, the raffle is getting more exciting by the day as businesses donate their services."
Other stylists in the area are also doing their own raffles for Sheppard in their own shops.
Suggested donations for cuts start at $40, but you also can "pay as your wallet allows."
Gabriel knows firsthand what this type of support can mean to someone who is very ill.
"My sister-in-law, Tracy Gabriel, was also an independent hair stylist in the area. She died of cancer when she was only 49," she says. "We can't bring back the people we've lost, but we can do everything in our power to support those who are still here."
Those who cannot come to the event are encouraged to purchase a raffle ticket or to donate to the GoFundMe for Sheppard at gofundme.com/f/re-sheppard-fundraiser.
'Genuinely touched and encouraged by the love and support'
Palazzo has seen what the funds raised so far have done to help Re Sheppard.
"Currently, Re is living with a friend who can care for her while she is receiving treatment, but we all know about the housing crisis in town," she says.
"She is still paying rent on her apartment that she hasn't been able to live in so that she doesn't lose it," Palazzo adds. "She'll still need a place to live when she has recovered."
Palazzo also notes that without an income, Sheppard is still responsible for paying for utilities, phone, car, car insurance, fuel to get her to numerous medical appointments and treatments, and for the hospital bills that her insurance will not cover completely.
"She is the most hard-working person I know, and she's frustrated that she can't jump back into her life," Palazzo says. "She had wanted to be working by now."
Re Sheppard is known by friends as a very private person.
"She's not used to so much attention, but she is genuinely touched and encouraged by the love and support being shown to her," says Palazzo. "Without the fundraisers, I don't think she would have any options. I know how very grateful she is for the support."
Gabriel agrees.
"This fundraiser is a tribute to this talented person who needs all the love and care she can get. Everybody simply wants her to be able to feel all the love and support we feel for her."
And, she adds with a heartfelt smile, "It's going to be a really fun day! I hope lots of people will join us!"
This News item by Fran Lynggaard Hansen was written for The Commons.