RICHARDS Bay resident Charmaine Barnes has made a ‘bald’ statement to encourage locals to lose their hair in support of the ‘Hair for Hope’ project in conjunction with Cancer Association of South Africa (Cansa).
Championing the fund-raising project to raise funds for Cansa and collect hair donations to create wigs for cancer patients, Barnes invited volunteer hair donors to join her last Saturday at Boardwalk Inkwazi Shopping centre where she was first in line to publicly part with her crowning glory.
While it was a nerve-wracking and emotional experience leading up to the event, Barnes said she was filled with excitement as she watched the hair come off.
She began growing her hair shortly after her brother’s death in 2011 and is driving the worthy cause in memory of him, and his wife, who both passed away from cancer.
‘Our aim is to raise R50 000 by March next year for Cansa and we are encouraging more people to donate their hair.
‘The pony tail has to be at least 22 cm long and clean and dry for the donation,’ she said.
She was joined by an emotional volunteer Kathy Olivier who also snipped her hair for the worthy cause in memory of family members who died from cancer.
In partnership with Marie Claire and the Kindest Cut campaign, Cansa aims to receive enough ponytails to make 250 wigs for distribution to care centres countrywide for cancer patients who lose their hair during treatment.
Anyone interested in supporting the project can phone Charmaine on 083 3214759.
