NC prof Mary Vanscoy, who is organizing a hair donation event for the College’s Welland and NOTL Campuses in March 2015, stands with one of her many student supporters Aley Meade. Both are planning to chop off their long hair at the event and encourage the college community to let their hair grow to do the same. Hair donations will be donated to make wigs for children with cancer.
A faculty member planning a college-wide hair donation event to provide wigs for children with cancer, has a message to staff and students during the holiday season: Let it grow!
School of Community Services professor Mary Vanscoy (Educational Assistant –Special Needs Support) is not only planning to cut off her own long hair to donate to children with cancer, she is hoping as many people in the college community as possible will join her.
Vanscoy is planning a college-wide hair donation event for March 2016. The event will take place at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus on March 17 the Welland Campus on March 18, 2016.
“If you can donate at least six inches to a child or youth suffering from cancer, you will be helping them feel more whole,” she says. “We as a college can make a huge difference to those who are fighting against this disease so please consider helping.”
Hair must be a minimum of six inches long to be donated. Hair that is coloured or permed as well as grey hair will also be accepted and sent to Hair Donations Canada – 360 Hair Wigs for Kids located in British Columbia, which has the ability to use processed and shorter hair (at least six inches) – in addition to Niagara-based Wigs for Kids which accepts ‘virgin’ never-coloured or treated hair a minimum of 12 inches long.
Vanscoy launched the initiative after losing her sister to cancer last summer, and the idea sparked a chain reaction students and faculty who expressed their desire to join her. She said that many of her students have been stepping forward to participate – some with really long hair who have committed to cutting it off. Her students have also started to encourage people at the school to participate through social media.
“I am really touched that they are taking on this initiative with me,” she said.
Carol Phillips, associate dean, School of Community Services, noted that the Let it Grow initiative, spearheaded by Mary Vanscoy and supported by Educational Assistant and Special Needs Support students, is an excellent example of the School of Community Services’ mantra ‘Rooted in People….Branching into Communities.’
“Mary responded to a need for wigs for people dealing with cancer treatment, shared her vision and students enthusiastically embraced the idea,” said Phillips. “Often we think that support needs to come in the form of money, however this demonstrates there are alternative ways to make a difference in the lives of others. I would encourage anyone who is interested in donating to this cause to grow their hair until March and consider the positive impact you can make.”
Hairstyling program supports initiative
Hairstyling professor Pat Spano, staff and students from the college’s Hairstyling program have already joined her efforts, volunteering to cut hair free of charge to those making hair donations during the event, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both days.
Spano said for the Hairstyling program, it’s all about giving back to the community.
“We in our program feel very strongly about this since our industry is a feel good industry, constantly making people feel better about themselves. It’s kind of selfish in a way because of the wonderful feeling we get when we make people feel good… it’s very addictive,” said Spano. “We stress that it never stops when we leave the salon. That as ‘feel good ambassadors’ we get involved in many charity events.”
Completing community service hours is an important part of the Hairstyling program and Spano sees how it positively impacts students.
“We find the more they volunteer, the more they ask for events to volunteer in and they will be assisting the instructors cutting hair for the event,” he said. Students are also involved in a cutathon for the United Way, Women’s Place of South Niagara, fundraising for Project Share,and more.
The event is also personally meaningful to Spano, who lost two sisters to breast cancer and his father to brain cancer and does not want to see any more people suffer. “Anything I can do to help is a main goal in life,” he said.
Thinking of donating? Here’s what you need to know:
· Hair must be at least six inches long (measured from just above the elastic band of the ponytail to the ends). For wavy and curly hair – it can be straightened to measure.
· Coloured, permed and grey hair will be accepted.
· No appointments necessary. Drop in to donate your hair.
· Before arriving, hair must be freshly washed, dry and bundled in a ponytail at both ends, or in a braid. Type of ponytail needed will be determined after discussion about how much hair will be donated and how hair will be cut. Elastics will be supplied.
· Hairstyling faculty will be on site to provide more difficult cuts for longer hair donations (i.e. pixie cuts) at event.
· Staff and students whose hair is being donated to the B.C. location may provide their name and email address at the event. The person who receives your hair will send a thank-you.
