I first met Vaungaylyn almost two years ago when Dean and I volunteered to provide photography services for Swoon Bridal Salon‘s annual Wear it Again Soirée benefiting the Reno Cancer Foundation, and I have to say that I am a better person for having made her acquaintance. On her Facebook profile, Vaungaylyn describes herself as “…sublimely happy!!!” and expresses her wish that we all share that same level of joy. Listed as her favorite quotation? “‘She’s just…a bit overly enthusiastic” ~an acquaintance, about Vaungaylyn.” Both are apt descriptions, but don’t even begin to do her amazing spirit, big heart, and infectiously optimistic personality justice.

Inspired by two neighborhood girls, Maddie and Makenna, who shaved their heads at a recent St. Baldrick’s event to raise money and spread awareness to ‘Conquer Kids’ Cancer’, Vaungaylyn decided to have her own fundraising event and shave her head! She chose two charities near and dear to her heart, and will split all monies raised equally between Service for Sight and the Reno Cancer Foundation.

Maddie and Makenna, rockin’ their short ‘dos, pose with V.

Vaungaylyn’s GLD 2B BLD campaign was a huge success, raising over $4,000 (and counting!) in just under two months, and culminated in a backyard BBQ and head shaving party yesterday afternoon. As soon as we heard about it, we knew that we wanted to be there to support her and capture the images to help tell her story.

Alyx Sacks with KRNV News 4 was there too, and the GLD 2B BLD ‘New Look for Cancer Awareness’ story led the midnight news edition just after the Olympics! (Don’t mind me walking behind Vaungaylyn in the video clip, as I’m getting ready to hand Dean the wide angle lens.  :P)

Here, Alyx interviews Vaungaylyn’s mom, and captures a conversation between two fearless (and inspiring) philanthropists!

Vaungaylyn’s friends and family…both young and young at heart, and those sporting long hair, or their own version of ‘glad to be bald’…came out in full force to support her!

Ponytails helped hold her luscious locks together, and will be donated to Locks of Love!

And then, amidst cheers and applause, the clippers went to work…

There go the bangs…

Vaungaylyn’s largest sponsor earned the privilege of shaving lines (a la Vanilla Ice) to complete the look!

WAHOO!!  :D  GLD 2B BLD!!

Seriously…love, love, LOVE these! V, you are absolutely GORGEOUS on the inside and out, with a sense of humor (and awesome ‘face’) to boot! (Shout out to MAC Cosmetics for working their makeup artistry.)

Mr. & Mrs. Z and their matching hairdos! oxo

Vaungaylyn, thank you for being uniquely you…for being a ray of light and a spark of inspiration every day! May your wish come true, as we all strive to be sublimely happy, and do big things to help others!

All our best!  Tiffany oxo

**Note:  In an effort to continue the ripple effect Vaungaylyn started, Follow Your Heart Photography will donate $1 to the GLD 2B BLD campaign for EACH blog comment left on this blog post between now and August 12, 2012. We will also donate any profits from downloads/prints/merchandise purchased between now and August 12, 2012 to the GLD 2B BLD campaign.

**To view (and order) all of the images from the GLD 2B BLD event, click here.