Hair Cut-a-Thon For Julio Gonzalez ignites memories of past
victims moves others to help
By Betsy Avelar Staff Writer
Gilroy – K.C. Adams lost his 17-year-old son a year ago when he got hit by a car in Mexico. Claudia Sandoval lost her 5-year-old son Julio Gonzalez a month ago when he got hit by a car while walking to Rod Kelley school. So, Adams showed up Sunday to help the stylist community which organized a cut-a-thon fundraiser for the Gonzalez family, just as they did for the Adams family.
“I have a lot in common with her so I know what she must be feeling,” said Adams. “That’s one of the main reasons I wanted to help out any way I could. They did one for my son.”
Adams helped through most of the event, but it wasn’t easy.
“It is very hard,” he said of arriving to the fundraiser located near the cemetery where his son is buried. “I didn’t realize how hard it was going to be when I got there, it just brought back a whole lot. I had to walk out of there a couple times.”
Hundreds of people cycled in and out of the event that raised $3,350 within five hours.
“We’re just hair dressers who hearts are broken, and we wanted to do something,” said Lacertian Santana, a Gilroy resident and a key organizer in the event. She invited the police and fire departments. Capt. Roy Shackle, from the Las Animas station, spoke on safety issues at home, at school, and on the streets.
“In all events like this we try and start the dialogue, get people to think about safety and at home, on the streets, and at school,” Shackel said.
The Las Animas station responded when Gonzalez was killed.
While Shackel contributed to starting the dialogue, three dozen stylists were busy at work donating their time and skills for the event. Students from the Gavilan College cosmetology department offered free shampooing services.
The hairstylist community is not the only ones raising money and creating awareness about safety issues on and off campus. Rod Kelly Principal Luis Carillo will hold a special dinner for the family.
“I think this is something that needed to be done, it’s a tragic event, and it has impacted everyone’s life,” he said. “We have to look at what can we learn from this, because his death can’t be forgotten.”
While more events are held to continue the safety dialogue in the community, Adams hopes that the victims of the accidents are always remembered.
“After all the hoopla is over, that’s when it sets in, when their birthday comes, when Christmas comes, that’s when it’s really hard,” Adams said. “People are going to be smiling and all of sudden you don’t have your kid there. I hope that in a year they’re caring about him.”
