Volunteers will be cutting hair, and people willing to get a mohawk are asked to sport the ‘do for the remainder of the month of November, calling attention to the cause and collecting checks from sponsors.

Overdose Awareness of Delta County is a relatively new organization, but the issues they address have plagued the community for a long time. Mental health problems and death by overdose have affected many local families. Overdose Awareness of Delta County aims to reduce further tragedies.

After Travis Hebert of Rapid River died in spring 2022, the first head-shaving event began as an impromptu act by his friends and family as a way to honor their lost loved one. Travis used to keep his hair buzzed short.

The movement evolved. At the Rapid River Pub, which Travis’s parents owned at the time, supporters switched to mohawks, a more dramatic, attention-grabbing style. The activity has become a Movember event in part because Travis’s birthday was Nov. 3.

Mike and Trina Hebert, former owners of Rapid River Pub, smile at one another after getting their hair cut into mohawks a couple years ago for the Mohawk Movember event in Rapid River. A similar fundraiser on Sunday will benefit Overdose Awareness of Delta County. (Courtesy photo)

Movember is a much larger, worldwide movement that traditionally challenges people to grow mustaches for the month of November and raise funds and awareness for men’s issues — testicular cancer, suicide and more. But the Movember Foundation, which kicked off in 2003, encourages people to find their own ways to participate.

Michael (“Mike”) Hebert — Travis’s father — and Don Brockway organized the first Mohawk Movember at the Rapid River Pub in 2022 and brought in about $14,000, Mike reported. The event the first couple of years raised money for various causes: FAN, which was formerly Families Against Narcotics but has changed its name to Face Addiction Now; the Strong Kids Campaign through the YMCA; and Miracle for Mason, which supported the family of a child with brain cancer.

There was not a Movember event in Rapid River in 2024, so this event is “3.0” because it’s the third event in four years, Mike explained.

“We haven’t done this since November 2023, and since then many young adults have died from fentanyl or other drugs, including three in Rapid River,” Mike said. “So we decided it was important to keep doing this to spread awareness to the dangers of these deadly drugs.”

The event will be at the Lions Club instead of the pub this year, which should offer more space. About four or five people will be providing haircuts.

Mike said that about 30 people got mohawk cuts each of the previous years. But going under the scissors or buzzer isn’t a requirement to participation. Anyone can write a check to Overdose Awareness of Delta County, the group that was formed earlier this year and has successfully placed boxes of harm reduction supplies at various points around the county, helped fund the launch of the tip411 app to allow people to report anonymous tips to the Delta County Sheriff’s Office and is working on more ways to help the community.

The event at Rapid River Lions Club this Sunday, Nov. 2, will also raise money through bucket raffles, a 50/50, and food sales. Jack’s Restaurant is donating brisket, the Rapid River Pub is donating pizza, and the Lions Club will be making french fries.

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R. R. Branstrom may be reached at 906-786-2021, ext. 140, or rbranstrom@dailypress.net.