A smile can go a long way. So can a shaved head.

During half-time at this Saturday's Yates Cup championship game between the McMaster Marauders and Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks, 20 volunteers will be shaving their heads to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society. Meanwhile, members of Smiling Over Sickness (SOS) will collect donations from the crowd.

“If you're planning on attending the game, make sure you bring an extra dollar or two and support Shave-for-a-Cure',” says Hanieh Rahimi, fundraising co-ordinator of the McMaster Students Union club.

“A smile is often the best medicine for a child,” she says. “Having identified this void in the lives of many sick children, we decided to extend and offer our volunteerism and use the student energy in the Hamilton community to the benefit the lives of children.”

Shave for a cure is SOS's biggest event. At last year's Yates battle, S.O.S. raised $7,000 for children with cancer. Other major events include a charity wheelchair basketball tournament, and a 'trick-or-treating' program where costumed McMaster students collect candy from the community and donate it to children in the hospital. S.O.S. also facilitates student-volunteering opportunities, through arts and crafts with children of the hospital, and a twice-yearly volunteer fair, where students can find information on children's organizations in the Hamilton community and get involved.

This year, S.O.S. aims to raise $20,000 for the Canadian Cancer
Society. “Please share in our quest and support this caring organization,” says Rahimi, “and help McMaster University 'Shave-For-A-Cure'.”

The 105th Yates Cup will take place at Ivor Wynne Stadium at 1 p.m. Tickets are available at Copps Coliseum, the Hamilton Tigercat box office and the McMaster Compass Information Centre with no service fee. Tickets are also available on Ticketmaster by phone 905-527-7666, Ticketmaster online at www.ticketmaster.ca and all Ticketmaster locations. Normal services charges apply.