Hair donation camp to help cancer patients rebuild confidence

MANGALURU: AJ Hospital and Research Institute in collaboration with an NGO- Sargakshetra Cultural Centre, Changanassery, Kerala, is helping cancer patients who have lost their hair to chemo, look beautiful again and rebuild their confidence.
As part of this mission, AJ Institute organized a hair donation camp and 50 persons donated their hair on Wednesday. Eight to 10 inches of hair was donated, which will be transformed into wigs by the NGO and will be sent back to the hospital.
Juliet D’Silva, 46, and her daughter Jane, 14, who donated their hair as part of this initiative, were glad that they could be part of a good cause.“We can regrow our hair while cancer patients cannot. The thought that it will be used for a good cause gives us immense satisfaction. I can understand the psychological effects of losing hair, especially on women,” said Juliet, who is a deputy nursing superintendent at the hospital. She also convinced her daughter to become a part of this cause. Jane got her waist-length hair reduced to shoulder-length. While Juliet donated eight inches, Jane donated 10 inches of hair.
Jane, a class IX student of St Aloysius High School, Urva, said, “I will also inform my friends about this camp,” she said.
Jennifer Carlo, II Year MSc (counselling) student from School of Social Work, Roshni Nilaya, also donated 10 inches of her hair. “My shocked mother was very supportive after I told her about the cause,’’ said Jennifer. The hospital received hair of more than 15 inches in length from only a few donors.
Mustafa Premi, owner of Heaven Rose Professional Saloon and Rohan Carlo, owner of Veera’s Dude’s and Dolls, were also a part of this initiative. They were approached by the NGO to lend their professional help for free. “I do social work and this work gives me satisfaction where I can help others,” said Mustafa.
About six to 12 pony-tail length hair, depending upon the quality, is required to make a wig. Dr Prashanth Marla, director of the institute, said he had seen an NGO doing this work in Bengaluru. “I was inspired by it,” he added.
Hospital authorities said that 57 women from economically weaker sections of the society were undergoing chemotherapy and 40 of them would lose hair in the process and they will be provided with the wigs.
Fr Alex Praikalam, director of the centre said they will need minimum of three to four weeks to make these wigs which will be sent to the institutes.