Crown Cutz holds 24-hour 'cut-a-thon' for Niswonger

JOHNSON CITY — Friday marked the beginning of a 24-hour shift for many of the city's barbers. Crown Cutz Academy started its day-long 'Cut-A-Thon' at noon. The fundraiser, which ended at noon Saturday, raises funds to buy toys for children at Ballad Health's Niswonger Children's Hospital. All haircuts at the academy's North Roan location will go toward the cause. "It's kind of showing a willingness to be somewhere for an extended period of time that might be a little uncomfortable," said Daniel Stewart, barber student at Crown Cutz Academy. "Try to do something good and raise money." Stewart, who arrived not long after the overnight fundraiser began, said he would cut hair for the full 24 hours. His last career entailed working late hours, he added, so he's used to staying up late — and is "always on caffeine." "[We'll] hopefully get some people in late night… that do work and aren't able to come during regular hours to get haircuts," Stewart said. "And then maybe some people early in the morning on their way to work." The event is part of a "Christmas in July" push. The mid-year "holiday" is a way to help out until the next big fundraising season, Stewart added."Christmas in July is kind of their way of celebrating and getting toys and items to patients, lift their spirits up, I guess, about halfway through the year," he said. The barber shop has hosted the fundraiser intermittently in the past. Stewart said they restarted it when another student pitched working with the children's hospital. Students also toured the Niswonger facility, an experience Stewart said put "a lot of things in perspective."The barber hopes the fundraiser will be one of many. "I would urge people to, whether they come get a haircut or not, to take advantage of having a resource like [Niswonger Children's Hospital] here," Stewart said. "And if they're fortunate enough to not need that resource, help fund it for people that do."