Youngster makes the kindest cut for CANSA
Yana Deenanath donated 30cm of her hair at the recent annual Shavathon held by the Cancer Association of South Africa.
THE Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) recently held its annual Shavathon campaign in malls across the country and one person who heeded that call this year was Glen Hills resident Yana Deenanath (5).
The campaign encourages South Africans to cut, shave or spray their hair to stand in solidarity with those for whom hair loss is one of the most visible and challenging effects of cancer treatment.
This year’s campaign was held under the banner ‘Be Courageous’ and that was something the Grade R learner at Chelsea Preparatory School was.
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Yana cut and donated 30cm of her hair she grew for a little over a year.
She also sprayed her hair pink and was encouraged by her older brother Erhan on the day.
Her mother Pranisha Kasool said she was proud of Yana’s incredibly kind gesture after suggesting it last year.
“Yana was asking last year about whether little children have cancer, to which I replied they do. She asked if their hair falls off and I replied it does after treatment. She then asked ‘does that make them sad?’ and I said yes. That was all it took to inspire her because she said her aim was to make little children happy. I’m very proud of her, especially because she wanted to do this from last year.
“Erhan was also such a great supporter of Yana’s. When she arrived at the Shavathon to donate her hair, she was very nervous. He went in first and had his hair sprayed to put her at ease. I hope acts like this inspire other people, regardless of their age, to give back in this meaningful way,” she said.
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Yana is already thinking about supporting the initiative next year.
“It makes me happy to know I can help other people. I would like to do it again as soon as my hair gets long enough,” she said.
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