On April 8, 2014, students gathered in the Nursing Lounge on the ground floor of the health sciences building. Instead of coming in to heat their lunch, study, attend a meeting or just chat with their friends, they were here for a cause. Eight undergraduate nursing students had spent the month fundraising, and were now preparing to donate their hair to cancer patients.
The atmosphere in the room was light as students prepared to donate their hair. Hair cutting services were provided by Asumi from Atelier May, Jun from Tac-TiQ, and Asuke from Hair Happiness. After donating their hair, the hair donors moved on to the Aveda Institute Toronto, which provided each of them with a stylish cut of their choice.
Current Nursing Undergraduate Society President Monika Dalmacio was the force behind making all of this happen. “Even with all the advances in cancer treatment, cancer still remains a major health concern. It has deep impacts on patients, not just physically, but emotionally as well. With the knowledge that 2 in 5 Canadians will develop cancer in their lifetimes, it is hard to find people whose lives haven’t been affected by cancer. So I’m pleased to be able to donate what I can to help cancer patients who have lost their hair, and to fundraise for the Canadian Cancer Society,” says Dalmacio.
Altogether, the eight students have raised more than $4,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society, and collectively donated more than 115 inches of hair to Pantene Beautiful Lengths and Locks of Love. While it will be some time before they can donate hair again, the fundraising campaign is still open. “Our goal is $5,000, and we’d really like to get there before April—the Canadian Cancer Society’s Daffodil Month—draws to a close,” says Dalmacio.