Long locks chopped for cancer patients
We saw people of different religions gather at this church to donate their hair to give a new lease of life to a cancer patient.”
Premi Mathew, founder, Hair for Hope India campaign
Sharon has never let me cut her hair because it is her most prized possession, but today, for the first time, she has got them chopped for cancer patients.”
Ancy Binuvarghese, mum
dubai — Over 30 ladies and young girls on Friday parted with one of their most prized possessions — their long hair — for a noble cause.
This was the first public hair donation event by Hair for Hope India campaign run by Indian expat Premi Mathew, who creates awareness about hair donations, which are converted into wigs and given for free to chemotherapy patients.
The event saw women of different age groups, religions — Hindus, Muslims, Christians, etc — gather at St Thomas Orthodox Church in Oud Metha and donate at least 12 inches of their hair.
Fr Ninan Philip Panackamattom, vicar of the cathedral, inaugurated the event by symbolically holding a pair of scissors and helping cut the hair of one of the participants.
Mathew said: “Struck by cancer, too many ladies end up confined at home without the courage to face the society when they lose hair. Hair donation was an unknown concept when I launched this campaign in 2011, but today it has become a huge movement. Many women even go bald defying social norms and taboos to avenge cancer for stealing their loved ones. Hundreds of men, too, have donated.”
Mathew said that the event also falls in line the UAE’s Year of Tolerance. “We saw people of different religions — Hindus, Muslims and Christians — gather at this church to donate their hair to give a new lease of life to a cancer patient, regardless of caste or creed.”
It was the first time that Sumayya, a Muslim resident, entered a church in Dubai. “My friend told me about this campaign happening at this church and I didn’t think twice about joining in. It was very motivating to sit with so many women of different religions and age groups and donate our hair at the same time.
“This campaign is a great way of involving the community in charity work without asking them to give anything from their pockets. I have nothing to give financially but I am giving something more valuable — a part of me — my hair. This is the third time I’m donating my hair and I will continue to do so whenever I get a chance.”
Mother of two Ancy Binuvarghese was present with her two daughters Sharon, 9, and Sherin, 6, who were both donating their hair for the first time.
“Sharon has never let me cut her hair ever since because it is her most prized possession, but today, for the first time in her life, she has got them chopped and donated 12 inches of her locks for cancer patients. This is because she has seen pictures of how cancer patients go bald during the treatment and this is her way of comforting them. Her younger daughter is just following her elder sibling. As a parent, I am happy to see them empathise and understand the importance of helping others,” Ancy said.
Cancer survivor Steffy Thomas, 27, said that when she was told she had cancer four years ago, the only worry she had was that she would lose her long hair.
“My sister donated her hair so that I could get a wig when I was going through the cancer treatment. For a woman, losing hair is traumatic and I think this campaign is a great way to spread awareness and bring happiness to both the donors and the beneficiaries.”
The event saw 106 ponytails chopped and donated. The hair will be handed over to Friends of Cancer patients, under the patronage of Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of the Ruler of Sharjah.