Growing Mustaches, Changing Lives

Jeremy Bond has seen a lot in his profession as a Flight Nurse Specialist with Metro Life Flight and a part-time firefighter with the Chagrin Valley Fire Department. So, he figures, if all he has to do is grow a mustache to help some people out, it’s worth the effort.

That’s why he launched Mustache March 16 years ago. He and his fellow firefighters grow their mustaches in March and donate money to MetroHealth’s Comprehensive Burn Care Center. They have donated about $10,000 to date.

“It’s just a good time and a good way to raise some money while seeing how funny our mustaches can grow,” Jeremy said.

During his 18 years at MetroHealth, he has seen firsthand the impact the Burn Care Center has on the community and the vital role MetroHealth plays throughout the region.

MetroHealth's Comprehensive Burn Care Center is one of only two burn centers in Ohio verified by the American Burn Association and the American College of Surgeons for the care of both adults and children. The center treats more than 1,700 burn injuries each year, providing specialized care for patients with injuries caused by fire, electricity, chemicals, smoke inhalation and even frostbite.

“I've transported children to the Burn Care Center and cared for patients with severe burn injuries throughout my career,” he said, recalling one patient whose body was about 90% burned in a house explosion in Youngstown. “They saved his life.”

During March, firefighters compete to see who can grow the funniest mustache, Jeremy said. The fire department’s female employees and the Chagrin Falls Police Department support the effort through donations.

 “MetroHealth is near and dear to my heart,” he said. “Because I work for the fire department, I see unfortunate things that happen when kids get burned.”

One constant among the patients he treats is MetroHealth's commitment to being there when they need care, regardless of the patient’s financial circumstance or whether they can pay for that care. That’s why he continues to grow a mustache every March.

“As long as I keep growing a mustache and even when I retire, I will pass it along to someone else,” he said, noting that he hopes to involve even more members of the community in the future. “It’s a good way to give back to the community and to MetroHealth when they give so much to other people.”

He inspires others to donate by reminding them that they might need MetroHealth’s help one day and, besides, it just makes a person feel good to give to others.  

“The more support MetroHealth receives, the better off our community is,” Jeremy said. “If you can donate $100, $1,000 or $100,000, the impact is lifelong because MetroHealth is a safety-net hospital that anybody can use. MetroHealth will never turn you away.”

Thanks to generous supporters like Jeremy and the firefighters at Chagrin Valley Fire Department, the Burn Care Center continues to provide state-of-the-art, lifesaving care to patients of all ages. Philanthropic support helps ensure that expert burn care remains available for every patient who needs it.

For more information, contact Greg Sanders, Vice President of Philanthropy, at 440-592-1319 and gsanders@metrohealth.org. Make an online gift here.