Students, faculty shear their locks
MICHAEL OLSON STAFF
As part of Cancer Awareness Month, students at the University of Manitoba were given the opportunity to make a rather unique donation to cancer research — their hair.
On April 5, students and faculty participated in Cuts for Cancer, which seeks to make wigs for those who could not otherwise afford them.
Individuals who were willing to have at least eight inches of their locks cut will have their hair donated to Evelyn’s Wigs Sales and Service. The hair will then be used to create wigs for children who are unable to acquire high-quality wigs.
The event was not exclusive to just the long-haired, however; anyone who was willing to make a donation to the Canadian Cancer Society could have his or her head shaved as well.
Matt Chase, a graduate student at the U of M, organized the event, which was the first of its kind at the university. Fittingly, Chase did his undergraduate degree at Queen’s, where Cuts for Cancer has its origins.
Cuts for Cancer was officially started at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont., in 2002. To date, in addition to a lot of hair, it has raised over $120,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society.s
