2004 Press Releases
It’s a Doubleheader for Rome Memorial Hospital Plant Operations Employee Eric Ringrose ROME -- Perhaps you could call it a doubleheader — pun intended. Rome Memorial Hospital Plant Operations Employee Eric Ringrose recently had 15 inches of his hair cut off for the benefit of not one, but two very worthwhile organizations — the American Cancer Society and Locks of Love — by none other than hospital President and CEO Darlene Burns. Cutting an employee’s hair doesn’t fit the normal job description for a president or CEO. However, Burns introduced the creative idea at the hospital’s employee party that for each $100 donation, an inch of Eric’s hair would be cut off. The money would then be donated to the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. Hospital employees from virtually every department raised more than $1,500. “This whole idea began with Darlene,” said Ringrose, referring to President and CEO Burns. “At the employee party, she told me she was going to make an announcement but she didn’t tell me what it was. She approached me with the idea right in front of everybody, which was a good thing, because I may not have done it. Then he paused for a moment, repeating the same words with a smile, “It was a good thing.” “Honestly, when Darlene mentioned that we were going to do this, I never thought they’d be able to raise the money,” he said. “I was absolutely flabbergasted, to tell you the truth. Pretty much everyone from the hospital came through,” he added. Eric’s girlfriend, Amy Marie Smith, came up with another idea — to donate his hair to Locks of Love, a non-profit organization that has hairpieces made for children with medical hair loss. “Relay for Life is the major community event that the hospital supports every year,” said Burns. “So many of the employees and their families or friends have been affected by cancer that we go all out to raise funds to support this very worthwhile organization.” “Eric was a really great sport about letting me cut it. His braid was so much a part of him,” said Burns. After the cutting, Burns presented Ringrose with a gift certificate to Custom Cut in Rome so that their stylist could finish the job. “In total, Rome Memorial Hospital raised nearly $12,000 in support of Relay for Life,” said Burns. “I am very proud of all of the employees at the hospital for being so generous and recognizing the needs of our community.” Burns added that Rome Memorial Hospital employees raised the most money among the corporate teams for this year’s Relay for Life. | 