OCEAN CITY – When Nate Clendenen’s dog Bodhi died in December of 2015, he stopped shaving. While it wasn’t a conscious decision, after about six months he decided it would be.
It was then he began planning for this month’s Bodhi Beard Benefit to support the Worcester County Humane Society.
“I’m just trying to do something positive to keep my dog’s memory alive,” Clendenen said. “He meant the world to me and changed my life for the better.”
Through the Bodhi Beard Benefit, Clendenen is hoping to raise $1,300 for the Worcester County Humane Society. The monetary goal he’s set represents $10 for each month of Bodhi’s life. The Great Pyrenees, named for a Buddhist deity, was born in February 2005 and was Clendenen’s constant companion for more than a decade. He accompanied the musician on trips throughout the country.
“If you ever met him, you remember him,” Clendenen said, adding that the dog was featured twice in The Dispatch’s “Pets of the Month” section.
He was devastated when the dog died in late 2015 and decided the next spring that the beard he’d unintentionally grown would be for Bodhi.
“I decided it was a Bodhi tribute beard,” Clendenen said. “I wanted to do something intentional in his name.”
Because he and his ex-wife had originally rescued Bodhi, Clendenen opted to turn the beard into a fundraiser for the Worcester County Humane Society. He said supporting the group was an intuitive choice.
“I don’t feel life forms should be bought and sold,” he said. “I’m a huge advocate of rescuing animals.”
While the fundraiser was a work in progress with no set date for much of last year, Clendenen said this winter when a long white hair fell out of his beard he was moved to action.
“It looked just like one of his hairs,” Clendenen said. “That was like ‘now it’s time.’”
Clendenen launched a Go Fund Me page for the Bodhi Beard Benefit two weeks ago. The idea is that everyone who donates will be entered into a drawing and the winner, to be selected June 7 during the Rude Awakening Show on 98.1, will get to choose how Clendenen’s beard is shaped and shaved off. The shave-off itself, set for June 14 to give Clendenen time to contact the winner, will again take place during the radio show and will be documented on Facebook Live.
“Whether it be a wild Fu Manchu, massive sideburns, John Waters or Ron Burgundy mustache, no shave, whatever, I’ll wear it for a week,” Clendenen’s Go Fund Me page reads.
In addition to soliciting donations online, Clendenen will be signing people up for the drawing Thursday at the fourth annual Pars for Paws Charity Golf Tournament at Eagles Landing Golf Course.
Clendenen has collected more than $700 for the cause so far and is hoping to meet or even surpass his goal. If the event is received well he’s thinking about doing it every year.
“The idea has kept evolving,” he said.
Regardless of the outcome, Clendenen says he’s happy to do something positive in his dog’s name.
“It’s taken me a while to get over losing Bodhi,” he said. “A dog can be such an important force in someone’s life.”
To donate online go to www.gofundme.com/bodhibeardbenefit.
