Kira makes the kindest cut for CANSA
Kira Clendennen, a 12-year-old from Westville, has donated her hair to CANSA's Kindest Cut Campaign for the third time, following in her family's footsteps of kindness.
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” – Aesop.”
In honour of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, 12-year-old Kira Clendennen from Westville has once again demonstrated that kindness runs in her family – and through her hair.
For the third time, Kira has generously donated a ponytail to CANSA’s Kindest Cut Campaign, where donated hair is crafted into wigs for cancer patients and survivors.
Kira’s journey began at just five years old, when she made the heartfelt decision to cut and donate her hair after hearing her family discuss the cause.
She contributed again during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, and now, four years later, she’s once more donated a glorious blonde ponytail at her choice of salon, Chi Chi’s Hairstudio in Westville.
Salon owner Cheryl Haddon Aylward, who has supported the campaign for nearly 20 years, carefully measured and cut 35cm of Kira’s nearly one metre long hair.
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The remaining length was layered into a fresh new style that left Kira beaming. The donated hair will be sent to CANSA’s Durban centre, where it will join many others in the painstaking process of creating wigs that restore confidence and dignity to thousands of South African cancer patients each year.
Hair loss during cancer treatment is a heart breaking reality for many, and the demand for human hair donations is great. Depending on hair texture, it can take nine or more ponytails to create a single wig. Blonde, thick hair like Kira’s is especially prized for this cause.
Donations
When asked why she chooses to donate, Kira replied simply, “I would never want something to go to waste when it can bring comfort or happiness to someone else. It makes my heart happy to be able to do that!”
CANSA welcomes all hair types and lengths for donation – ponytails of 25cm or longer are preferred, but shorter strands are also valuable as filler hair.
Donations can be made year-round at local CANSACare Centres and during Shavathons nationwide.
Kira’s story (and people like Aylward who don’t charge for kindness cuts) is a beautiful reminder that a small act of kindness can truly make a big difference.
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