Cuts for Cancer Guelph is looking for people with long hair who would be willing to chop it off to help kids with cancer.
The organization will hold its fourth annual haircutting event on Jan. 26 in the atrium of the Stone Road Mall. Participants will have their heads shaved or their ponytails cut to stand in solidarity with kids who have lost their hair through chemotherapy, a news release said.
Ponytails of eight inches or longer will be donated to Pantene Beautiful Lengths and Locks of Love to make real-hair wigs for women and children with cancer. Each ponytail donated has a value of about $200 and an invaluable impact on the self-esteem of those facing hair loss due to cancer treatment, the release said. Participants also collect sponsors for their haircuts, raising funds for research through the Childhood Cancer Foundation.
Hair will be cut by professional stylists from Kharisma Hair Design & Colorist, and donors will get a discount if they return to the salon for a more sophisticated style, the release said.
The event’s fundraising goal is $15,000, and anyone is welcome to participate. Donations can be made at the event or online. Hair donation guidelines, registration procedures and fundraising materials are also available online at www.cutsforcancerguelph.ca.
Cuts for Cancer is a University of Guelph-based volunteer group that includes cancer researchers and childhood cancer survivors. In the last three years the group has collected close to 190 ponytails and raised more than $35,000, providing research grants to Canadian cancer institutions.