MANicure Challenge Moves to Local Barber Shop

March 23, 2022

Pictured above is CCKids IT Specialist Larry Olsen, who painted his nail for child abuse
prevention a little early this year to help promote the MANicure challenge taking place next month.

Port St. Lucie -

Port St. Lucie- What goes with a clean shave and a hot towel? A manicure of course!

CCKids – the organization that oversees the child-welfare community in Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee and St. Lucie counties – will celebrate National Child Abuse Prevention Month on Saturday, April 16, at Defoe’s Barber Shop in Port St. Lucie.

Owner Mike Defoe is partnering with CCKids to help increase awareness for child-abuse prevention. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., April 16, customers coming for a shave or haircut can also receive a special one-finger MANicure.

It's part of the statewide MANicure Movement - a multi-media campaign designed to highlight the fact that one in five children experience child abuse. Participants paint one fingernail blue, the color of child-abuse awareness, and then explain why when asked.

Men are especially encouraged to participate because people are more likely to ask why a man's fingernail is painted.

"That starts the conversation," said Christina Kaiser, community relations director for CCKids. "We want people to see that one blue nail and ask, 'why?'"

Other activities to celebrate the month include a social media campaign featuring high-profile leaders, like chiefs of police, sheriffs and local fire chiefs, taking the MANicure challenge and painting their pointer finger nails blue.

Follow us throughout the month on Facebook and Instagram to learn more about child-abuse prevention, or visit us at www.cckids.net.

Want to get involved? Take a selfie or video giving yourself a one-finger manicure - painted in any color blue - and email it to Christina Kaiser. We'll post it as part of our celebration!