The Rev. Tim Bupp of Grace @ Calvary Lutheran Church is about to pony up for charity.

The city pastor has challenged churches in the county to a fundraising competition for Locks of Love, which distributes wigs of human hair to children with medical hair loss.

The pastor whose church raises the most money will also earn a special privilege: the right to cut off Bupp's ponytail during Butler's Fall Festival. The ponytail will be cut at 5 p.m. Sept. 16 at the church's booth on Main Street.

"The highest bidder gets to cut his ponytail. The second highest church gets to cut mine," said church secretary Renee Lyon, who proposed the fundraising project.

Bupp said if $10,000 is raised for Locks of Love, he will also shave his head.

The haircut is somewhat significant because Bupp has worn a ponytail for most of his adult life.

"I was the first kid in elementary school to have a Beatle haircut," he said.

Since that time, Bupp said he cut his hair once as a teen for a job interview and again before college graduation at the urging of his wife.

"It's still just hair," Bupp added. "It grows back — at least I think it grows back!"

The Rev. Peter Nordby of Trinity Lutheran on Sunset Drive said the ponytail brings to mind the Bible story of Samson and Delilah.

"Samson received his power from his long hair, and in cutting off his long hair he lost his power. I'm not sure for pastor Bupp: He won't lose any of his power for ministry."

The Rev. James Higgins, pastor at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Chicora, said his church is familiar with Bupp due to Bupp's internship there eight years ago.

"When I announced it to the congregation, it got some reaction because he had his ponytail when he was here. I said 'If that motivates you, open your wallets.'"

Higgins said when Bupp initially presented the challenge at an informal meeting of local pastors, the reaction included questions about his future hairstyle.

"We asked him, 'What are you going to do with your hair when you get that thing cut off?' I guess (a hairstylist) has already volunteered to help him," Higgins said.

Although hair is typically donated to Locks of Love, Bupp and Lyon said cash is also necessary because wigs are costly to make. Although the retail cost of wigs begins at about $3,500, they are given free of charge or on a sliding scale, based on financial need.

Once cut, Bupp's ponytail will also be dyed from its natural gray before being donated.

In addition to cash donations, Grace @ Calvary will be collecting hair at the festival booth. Although the church is coordinating with stylists to cut ponytails during the event, Lyon is unsure if demand for cutting will limit stylists' time to do in-depth styling after the donated hair is taken off.

However, those wishing to bring already-cut hair to the event should follow these guidelines:

• Clean hair should be bundled as a ponytail or braid at least 10 inches long and submitted in a Ziploc bag.

• The length of the hair should be written on the outside of the bag.

• Dyed or permed hair is OK, but hair should not be bleached or chemically damaged.

For more information about the Butler event, call Lyon at 724-482-9246. For information on Locks of Love, log on to www.locksoflove.org.