LAKEWOOD RANCH — It was the first time Nick Penker’s baby-blond hair was touched by professional scissors.
The 3-year-old boy sat down Sunday afternoon for a trim inside Statements Salon at 1825 Lakewood Ranch Boulevard.
But the special day to remember wasn’t just for him.
It was for his older brother Luke.
Nick joined more than 65 other people inside the business in Lane Plaza Too during the third annual cut-a-thon. The day was sponsored by the salon and the Center for Autism Resources and Education, a nonprofit organization inside Pinnacle Academy.
Nick’s 5-year-old brother Luke, diagnosed with autism, attends the school on Lorraine Road, just off State Road 70.
It is dedicated to children with autism from preschool through the 12th grade and helps families in Sarasota and Manatee counties who are faced with the rising epidemic of autism, according to CARE director Kirstina Ordtexv.
The event comes on the heels of national Autism Awareness month.
“This devastating disorder leaves families not only heartbroken but in financial ruins,” Ordtexv said.
Community participation is crucial to the fight against autism as it is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the United States, said CARE volunteer Marla Whittemore, whose son attends Pinnacle.
“People come from all over the country to get into this school, it’s the largest school for autism in the state,” Whittemore said. Every 20 minutes a child is diagnosed with autism, according to CARE.
And autism receives less than 5 percent of the research funding of many less prevalent childhood diseases.
So from trims, to shaves to up-dos, 13 stylists donated their free time providing services throughout the afternoon at the salon, which is normally closed Sundays.
Luke sat nearby his brother as the salon’s owner, Melissa Schooley, cut his younger brother’s hair.
In front of Luke on the wall, a sign read “67 children are diagnosed per day.”
Signs like that one were posted throughout the store.
Another one read, “1 in 94 boys is on the autism spectrum.”
“We’ve been busy,” said Schooley as she finished Luke’s cut. “We do this every year … wanted to support a local charity so having four children of my own, I thought this was a good idea.”
Bill Willmeth, 60, of Osprey, sat in a chair behind Nick, his grandson.
He said he stopped by the salon for a clean shave.
“I’m here for support,” he said, then smiled.
The event brought in almost $4,000 with 100 percent of the proceeds to fund a summer camp for children with autism, said Whittemore.
“We are so grateful,” Whittemore said Sunday evening.
The first year of the cut-a-thon paid for a playground at Pinnacle Academy.
Last year’s event paid for more than 70 children to receive free social therapy all summer, said Nick and Luke’s mother, Carmen Penker, who attended the event with her sons. She said when she learned Luke was autistic, she had to become a stay-at-home mom.
“That’s one of the biggest deficits with autism,“ Penker said.
In addition to Statements Salon, other local vendors pitching in included Palm Printing in Lakewood Ranch’s Corporate Park, the Broken Egg, Argonaut Productions and Signs By Tomorrow. The companies pitched in to provide items like food and a raffle basket worth more then $2,000.
Natalie Neysa Alund, reporter, can be reached at 745-7095.
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