INDIANAPOLIS - The blue tarp on the green turf was laid down. Then two chairs were placed about a foot-and-a-half apart as the photographers began to assemble in front of them.
As the time ticked down in the third quarter, a pair of Colts cheerleaders approached this makeshift hair salon together.
Megan M was the first one to sit down. She's the one began on this unique journey that involved cancer research and her long hair. Crystal Ann, a fellow cheerleader, was the next to sit down.
It was her desire to join Megan and show support for the cause she was fighting for: Help raise money for the IU Simon Cancer Research Center in honor of Colts coach Chuck Pagano who is fighting Leukemia.
"I was so happy she stepped in to support me," said Megan of Crystal, because what they were about to do was a bit strenuous.
You see it was the pair of cheerleaders who would have to hold up the end of a deal struck with the Colts' mascot Blue. The mascot said on Twitter that if he could get $10,000 raised by November 25th, a cheerleader would have to shave their head.
Megan was the first to agree, and with over $22,000 raised, the time to pay up had come.
"I was just thinking about the impact that we were able to make," said Megan as first her pony tail was cut off by a member of the Tyler Mason Salon-a sponsor of the cheerleaders.
After that, it was the mascot with a pair of clippers shaving the head of Megan than Crystal Ann as the entire scene was played out on the big board at Lucas Oil Stadium between the third and fourth quarters.
"It just happened so fast," said Megan of the haircut. "It's a chance you don't get very often so I was just thinking about hoping that we could send a positive message to young people everywhere."
For Crystal Ann the message was spot on since she survived a bout with cancer at the age of three.
"I've been in remission since 1995, there's no way this opportunity could pass up without having to do something about it," said Crystal Ann of her decision to join Megan.
The entire haircut took about ten minutes finishing up as the Colts were in a tight game with the Bill on the field to the side. Both cheerleaders walked off the field momentarily for interviews but were back on cheering again in the fourth quarter.
"It's a lot lighter," said Crystal Ann of having no hair.
"It's gonna be fun learning to dance like this," said Megan-who got a surprise when she went out to do so again.
In the Northwest corner of the endzone, Megan's father made a large sign saying "Bald is Beautiful! You are Chuckstrong." He showed it to her when she came back to that spot to cheer in the fourth quarter.
