It’s not A hAIRCut, but A donAtIon oF CouRAge

For most donors, hair donations are not just a haircut. They are donating a part of themselves to people who are suffering from cancer. Premi Mathew, a cancer activist, said: “A wig gives people the courage to face society with dignity and avoid pitiful looks from society which destroys their confidence. It gives them the will to fight, and in a way, they are avenging cancer.”

In the UAE, donors send their hair directly to Friends of Cancer Patients (FoCP), an organisation established by Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of the His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah. “The hair is converted into wigs and then donated for free cancer patients,” she added.

While donating, 12 inches measured tip to tip is the minimum length must be in a ponytail or braid before it is cut. Hair must be clean and completely dry before it is mailed in. Place the ponytail or braid inside of a plastic bag, and then inside of an envelope. Furthermore, treated hair is now being accepted by the society.