City gives cancer patients new strand of hope

Bangalore: It was no ordinary Sunday for 15 female and one young male in Bangalore. The city for the first time witnessed about 15 female donating a part of their hair and a young male who went bald showing their solidarity for the cause of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. The solidarity formed part of a unique campaign “Hair for Hope-India”, a subsidiary of ‘Protect your Mom Campaign’.

The pain a cancer patient goes through is best understood by his family and friends. The loss of hair following their chemotherapy session has been one of the most humiliating experiences giving negative feeling to the patient. Nishant Priya, a young Engineer from Hebbal went bald on Sunday. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle he said “When I had gone to the hospital with my aunt who is a breast cancer patient, I saw other cancer patients at the hospital who were almost bald. I felt really bad, I could sense out that they were emotionally insecure. They get a negative feeling, humiliated and separated from others.”

I could feel that they cannot share their pain but at least we could make them feel at ease and make them smile. Going bald was one of the way through which I could show my solidarity for all these brave patients, further added Nishant.

Donating 25 inches of hair is something which a female would think twice, thrice before taking up the step. But here was one female, Deepika Priya, a city resident who without a second thought donated about 25 inches of her hair for the cause. Deepika who was also among the chief coordinator said “When I saw one of my cousin aunt ailing with breast cancer and who had slowly started losing her hair I tried to check out over the internet as to what can be done. I got in touch with Founder of ‘Protect your Mom Campaign’ and then thought that this would be the best idea to show my solidarity and bring a smile on their face by donating my hair which can be used as a wig by cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.”

Meanwhile, few among the donors had come up to donate promptly at the venue on Sunday. Kriti, a student of Mount Carmel College who had donated said “I had come for shopping, but when I saw this noble initiative going on, I just went ahead. I have seen my aunt who is slowly losing her beautiful hair following her chemotherapy, and it is really sad.”

A wig is the most precious gift for a chemo patient who cannot afford to buy a wig and is hence stuck at home for over an year adding to the torture of cancer treatment. People usually throw away hair which is unfair since it means the world to chemo patients. Hair for hope India endeavours to give dignity and freedom to chemo patients, says Founder, Premi Mathew.