After a countdown from three, the people in the Tipton’s Independent parking lot could hear two things, a tearing of wax strips, followed almost immediately by a 22 men-in-pain choir.
“That’s the price of beauty,” said a spectator among the people watching and paying for the chance to rip a wax strip off one of the male staff member’s legs. But real the “beauty” of this event is that all proceeds will be going towards Athabasca’s Prevention of Relationship Abuse Action Committee (PRAAC).
“My legs feel like they’re on fire right now – that was brutal,” said Tyler Dwinnel, after getting $80 worth of wax stripped off his legs. “I wouldn’t do that again. I mean, for a good cause (I would), but not for myself.”
The event idea began when owner Dave Tipton gave his staff a target to raise $3,000 for the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event being held on Sept. 9. He said that if they raise that much money, he will participate in the event wearing a dress.
Kimberley Greentree, assistant manager at Tipton’s Independent, said the idea was a collaboration with most of the women workers.
“The leg waxing idea just kind of made sense, because it’s for Walk a Mile,” she said. “So hopefully, we can go dress shopping after today.”
The Independent team came close to their goal during the day, raising close to $2,500 from the $5 wax strips as well as the barbecue and face painting. With their recent success, Greentree said they will try to make this an annual event.
Although it looks like Tipton will be getting himself a new dress to go with his high heels, he said he was very impressed with his staff’s participation.
“For all these young guys to step up like this is pretty impressive,” Tipton said. “To get them involved in a good cause, it’s really impressive.”
