Marie Claire takes the Kindest Cut
28 November 2011
This festive season Marie Claire challenges readers to join in the Kindest Cut Campaign. Aimed at improving the lives of sick children, readers are challenged to donate their hair or make a financial contribution to the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) in order to supply wigs to cancer patients.
For thousand of South Africans diagnosed with cancer every year, hair loss becomes their heartbreaking reality. To help restore dignity and a sense of self-worth to those who have lost their hair during cancer treatment, CANSA makes and distributes over 2 000 wigs via wig banks each year – of those, 200 are donated to young cancer survivors under the age of 18.
‘Our goal is to donate at least 50 wigs to young cancer survivors,’ says Aspasia Karras, editor of Marie Claire magazine. ‘Our hair, whether long or short, evokes deep emotions for most women. This month we are asking our readers to imagine what it’d be like to lose all their hair. Through the Kindest Cut campaign we show our sincere empathy with cancer survivors and we stand together with these women and children on their road to recovery.’
The number of wigs CANSA distributes through wig banks each year is dependant on the number of donations received: CANSA relies on both human-hair donations as well as financial contributions as it can cost up to R2 000 to turn human and synthetic hair into just one wig.
To participate in the campaign by donating hair, Marie Claire needs the following:
- Hair that is 22cm or longer.
- Hair that is clean and free of permanent colour, bleach or other chemical treatments.
- When cutting the hair, please bind both ends with an elastic band and place in a zip-lock bag (this preserves it in the best condition while being transported to the wig manufacturer).
- To find out where to send the hair and make a donation, visit Marieclaire.co.za.
- People who want to grow their hair and make a donation in 2012 can do so at one of the Cut-a-thons, to be held in early 2012. More information will be available on the Marie Claire website closer to the time.
For people wanting to make a financial donation instead, go to Marieclaire.co.za and click on ‘Marie Claire Kindest Cut Campaign’. This link will direct you to the CANSA PayPal donation site.
To make a direct donation, donate to the following account:
Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA)
ABSA
Account number: 925 821 2765
Reference: Marie Claire/Kindest Cut
For more information visit Marieclaire.co.za
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Marie Claire on Twitter: @marieclaire_sa
For more on CANSA: Cansa.org.za
