ASHLAND — Things got hairy — and generous — in downtown Ashland Saturday.
A $1,878 check was already headed toward helping a Mansfield girl with a rare disease when another beard competitor decided to double it.
The donation was presented Saturday during Beards on Main in downtown Ashland for Allysson Nead, who has Niemann-Pick disease, a rare medical condition.
Then a competitor known as Lucky Boy stepped forward and matched the donation. The additional $1,878 brought the total raised for Allysson to $3,756.
The moment came during an afternoon filled with long beards, mustaches, costumes and plenty of conversation as competitors traveled to Ashland for Beards on Main.
The competition brought beard enthusiasts from Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan and Connecticut to downtown. Contestants competed in categories based on beard length, style and creativity.
Chris Hall is one of the beard competition organizers with the Appalachian Bearded Mafia. He said each event brings together competition and community fundraising.
Last year’s event drew more than 60 beard competitors from outside Ohio, according to Hall, who expected an even larger turnout this year.
The Appalachian Bearded Mafia travels to communities across the country and uses its competitions to raise money for local causes.
“It’s not just about the beards,” Hall said. “It’s about giving back to the community.”
The group chooses charities based on the communities where its events take place. Hall said organizers work with local contacts to identify causes involving women, children and military-related organizations.
Allysson’s family previously connected with Hall about bringing the fundraiser to the area.
“The little girl’s dad came up to me in Ashland last year and he said, ‘Can you help spread the word about my daughter’s sickness?’ I said, ‘I can do better than that, you’re my charity for next year,” Hall said.
As the beards have grown, so has the community around them.
“There’s people that I see every weekend,” Hall said. “And when I see them, we hug each other like we haven’t seen each other in 10 years.”
That community was on display throughout Saturday’s competition as contestants compared beards inside VFW at 125 E. Main St.
This is the second year for Beards on Main, which happens the second weekend of September each year.
The competition included categories for different beard lengths, partial beards, mustaches and creative styles before contestants competed for overall scores.
Host of the event Taxi Phil Allen Jones presented James with first place in the full beard, 1-6 category.
The beards weren’t the only things turning heads downtown Saturday.
Just down Main Street, more than 40 classic cars lined the road for the End of Summer Main Street Bash sponsored by Big 3 Racing.
The event also featured a pinup competition. Contestants were judged on personality, appearance and interaction with the crowd.
Host of the competition Kandi McCrea announced contestant Island Nightengale as the overall winner for Miss Main Street along with a $500 prize.
Across Main Street, the two events brought people together for an afternoon of community and competition.
The afternoon ended with winners on the stage and a $3,756 donation for Allysson. Both gave the crowd something to cheer about.
See more beards, pinups and cars from yesterday:
