Head for the Port Aransas Civic Center Saturday, Jan. 22, at noon for the chance not only to help a Port Aransas family but to become the person who shaves the police chief’s head.

The winning bidder of a silent auction item at a benefit barbecue Saturday will get to shave Chief Scott Burroughs’ head at the first annual police commendation banquet, scheduled for Friday, Feb. 18 (see related story). The successful bidder on Burroughs’ head-shaving also will get two tickets to the commendation banquet.

Proceeds from the barbecue and silent auction will go to help a Port Aransas family facing medical expenses involving a bone marrow transplant.

The event will be from noon to sell-out at the Civic Center, with tickets going for $5 a plate.

Among the other things in the silent auction are artwork, a chance to ride with a Port Aransas police officer on duty, hair styling, massages, tickets and transportation to the San Antonio Rodeo, lodging at local condominiums and more.

Donations to the silent auction may be taken to the EMS office or the police department, 705 W. Ave. A. Donations of cash also will be accepted. Checks should be made out to the Port Aransas Ladies’ Fire Auxiliary, which is a 501(c)3 nonprofi t organization.

Wisper Grumbles, 12, is the daughter of Port Aransas police officer Scott Grumbles and Rachel Grumbles, who works part-time for Port Aransas Emergency Medical Service and full-time for Tri-County Emergency Medical Service in Aransas Pass. Doctors say Wisper has aplastic anemia, or a failure of her bones to replenish blood cells.

Wisper’s sister, Jade, 10, is a perfect donor match for the bone marrow transplant. But insurance won’t cover all the costs, nor will it make up for the days Wisper’s mother must miss work to be in Houston with her.

Since her diagnosis two months ago, Wisper has had to be in Houston every Monday to get blood. On Monday, Jan. 25, she enters Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston for chemotherapy treatments until the day of the transplant, Monday, Jan. 31. Jade will go home about a week after the transplant.

Wisper, however, will be hospitalized for 45 days and then be required to stay in the Houston area for another 100 days. If there is a complication, she will need to be at the hospital within minutes, family friend Lyn Gillespie said.

Wisper, a seventh grade student in Aransas Pass, has had to miss quite a bit of school, and will miss even more with the transplant. She may be home-schooled to keep up. Jade, a fifth grade student, will miss some school, but probably will not have to be homeschooled.