Hair for hope

FOR the first time, five-year-old Teagan Royle of Richards Bay had no objection last week to sit in the dreaded hairdresser’s chair.

This is because the philanthropic toddler decided to follow in the footsteps of Richards Bay resident Charmaine Barnes by having her hair snipped in support of the ‘Hair for Hope’ project.

Charmaine recently shaved her head to raise funds for the Cancer Association of South Africa (Cansa) and collect hair donations to create wigs for cancer patients.

When parents Justin and Cindy explained the project to little Teagan, she insisted on donating her ponytail for the good cause.

Also losing her hair in support of the project was Renika Raidoo, who bravely went ‘bald’ in support of ‘Hair for Hope’.

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.

‘Our aim is to raise R50 000 by March next year and we are encouraging more people to donate their hair,’ said Charmaine.

‘To date we have raised just over R10 800 in donations and an additional R22 000 in pledges to be paid monthly over the duration of the project.

‘I also have eight ponytails which will be sent to Cansa on Thursday. The ponytail has to be at least 22cm long and clean and dry for the donation.

‘We also thank Ane Belle Hair Salon in Meerensee for their commitment to the cause,’ she said.

Barnes 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 also passed away from cancer.

Anyone interested in supporting the project can contact Charmaine on 083 3214759.