What began as a shaving accident for Tom Siemers, Dosher Memorial Hospital president and CEO, grew into a spirited fundraising challenge and netted Brunswick County’s New Hope Clinic more than $7,000 in gifts and pledges.

One morning in mid-February, Siemers accidentally cut himself shaving. The resulting infection ended with a visit with a Dosher Hospital emergency department physician and a mandate not to shave for at least two weeks.

Never having never worn a beard before, “Siemers was very uncomfortable and self-conscious about the hair on his face, and found himself apologizing to everyone he came in contact with, as well as complaining about his itchy beard,” Dosher Hospital spokesman Kirk Singer said in a news release.

Several weeks later, during a medical staff meeting, orthopedic surgeon and chief of Dosher’s medical staff Eric Lescault extended a challenge for Siemers to keep the beard until July.

“One after another, the physicians in attendance added to his pledge, making that night’s total over $2,000,” Singer said.

The fundraising effort took on a name – “Hair for Hope” – and the gifts and pledges continued to increase, totaling over $7,000 by July 1.

“New Hope Clinic is very grateful to Tom and Dosher Hospital for their efforts in raising over $7,000,” said Sheila Roberts, New Hope Clinic executive director. “We rely on community support to be able to provide free medical care for the uninsured, low-income residents of Brunswick County. Dosher was involved in the original establishment of the clinic back in 1998, and its generosity through this Hair for Hope challenge will benefit us in a big way.”

On July 3, Eddie Howard and Will Hewett of Howard’s Barbershop in Southport closed their shop and opened their doors to Siemers and five men from Dosher’s staff, hospital volunteers and the Dosher Foundation.

The five each grew “sympathy beards” in support of Siemers during the four-and-a-half-month fundraiser, Singer said.