Hair today - gone tomorrow - locks lost for charity
Let it grow, let it show, let it go – for a good cause.
Seeing the joy a natural wig brought a cancer sufferer, it dawned on a popular Wellington coffee proprietor that he could give more than fundraising.
Tomer Ben Shimol was about to have his long lustrous locks lopped off in the hope someone who’s lost theirs might benefit.
Ben Shimol owns The Mini Coffee Bar in Northland, Wellington and has set himself the goal of raising $10,000 for the Cancer Society.
He’s also arranged to have his hair used for wigs for people who have lost their hair from cancer treatment.
‘‘The idea of donating my hair to Freedom Wigs is in memory of a lovely customer of mine who unfortunately lost her battle with cancer earlier this year. The amount of happiness and freedom that the natural wig gave her made those last few months easier to get through. She was an absolute ray of sunshine.’’
Ben Shimol said some of his fondest memories as a young kid were driving patients to their weekly treatments in Christchurch with his great-uncle Ross.
‘‘He always had time to help others, and made sure to always volunteer his time when he could, doing everything from street collection to fundraising and of course driving patients to and from their appointments.’’
The Wellington businessman was intending to hold a head shave event for everyone to come and watch, but he said due to Covid-19 restrictions he was going to do it at the shop and post the video.
Dunedin-based Freedom Wigs is the only manufacturer of human hair wigs in New Zealand and that was where Ben Shimol’s clean hair would be sent.
You can help him get to his goal by donating at youcanforcancer.org.nz