Thanksgiving message from breast cancer-survivor mom to NSB daughter who held fundraiser: 'I'm very proud of her'

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Photos by Henry Frederick and Sera Frederick.

Denise Marie, proprietor of Dapper Dan's hair salon in New Smyrna Beach held a haircut a-thon fundraiser several weeks back for breast cancer research in honor of her mother, Margaret Varanoa, now 80 and a 22-year survivor. In the inset photo, Jim Walsh of the UPS Store does his part: Not only fdid he get a haircut, but he printed all of the event flyers for free. At left, the "sexy" mannequin outside Dapper Dan's, 633 N. Dixie Freeway, turned heads and even brought in a few for a trim. Below, stylist Roxanne Wessler cuts a little boy's hair.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Today is a day where Denise Marie leaves her scissors behind at her and instead stands on her feet preparing the family Thanksgiving meal.

There is no rest for the weary when it comes to this small business owner who stands on her feet all day to earn an honest day's work. Several weeks back, Sunday, Oct. 24, to be precise when the salon is normally closed, Marie worked for free to support a cause. And she enlisted others to help her, too.

The cause? Marie, along with four other stylists from shops near and far donated 100% of the price of haircuts to the Susan Komen Breast cancer Research Foundation. Together they generated several hundred dollars, including the sale of pink ribbons and T-shirts emblazoned with "Save the Ta Tas."

Jim Jones of New Smyrna Beach, didn't want his long locks cut. Instead, he bought a  T-shirt for his girlfriend that reads "Save the Ta Tas." Dennis Coppola of D&T Extreme Remodels.donated $50.00 for his trim.

Denise Marie This is not the first time Marie has done something like this; over the years raising several thousands of dollars over the years for the foundation. It's just the first time anyone in the media has taken notice.

Her inspiration? Her own mother, Margaret Varano, 80, of Edgewater, a 22-year breast-cancer survivor.

So what's mom thankful for on this Thanksgiving and every day for the matter?

"My daughter, of course," said, who underwent a mastectomy at the age of 58 after a lump was discovered. "I'm very proud of my daughter. She drew quite a crowd."

Breast cancer strikes one in eight women, according to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

That statistic is something that motivated Marie's hair-cutting and stylist friends: Roxanne Wessler, of Accents on You, Melissa Jaillet of the Barbary Shope, and Debby Griffey. Barbara Ives drove up all the way from Fort Lauderdale.

Ives, a former New Smyrna Beach resident, downplayed the long trek for the fundraiser: "This is fun. Denise is my friend. We're all family and friends in New Smyrna. We help each other."

Joe Van Ardsdale of Deltona, before and after donating 2 feet of hair for "Locks of Love," a charity for cancer survivors undergoing chemotherapy that causes them to lose their hair.