A pop-up barbershop took place Wednesday inside Coon Rapids Fire Station One. In a show of solidarity, 21 firefighters took turns getting their head shaved in support of fellow firefighter Christian Worby.
"This is amazing, like, I had no idea that this was happening," Worby said.
Worby was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in October of last year. It’s a type of cancer which can occur in firefighters. He had already shaved his head to get his young boys used to seeing their dad bald.
Worby got to shave several heads, including Tim Gilsrud, his Battalion Chief.
"It's just one small gesture that we can do for Christian and his family,” Gilsrud said. “And just to let him know that were there in spirit with him in this tough time."
Worby is a career firefighter and has been with Coon Rapids since 2014. He will be away from his family for six weeks to receive stem cell treatment at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.
"The deal with multiple myeloma is, as things stand, unfortunately it's incurable,” Worby said. “But it is very treatable."
Christian’s wife, Colleen, will have to manage their two sons, seven-year-old Fletcher and two-year-old Archer, while he is at the Mayo Clinic.
"It's just amazing to see the support of the fire community," Colleen Worby said. "They've all really come together and surrounded us as a family."
And so with his extended firefighter family all shaved, Christian knows they have his back.
"I knew they were stepping up and supporting me, but just like this display of support, it's amazing," Worby said.