Locks of hope: MBA students donate hair for cancer patients

COIMBATORE: First-year MBA student Kavya S Menon, from PSG Institute of Management, grew up watching her grandmother suffer from cancer. She also noticed that one of the issues that caused her most pain, was losing her thick hair, which she was proud of. On Wednesday, when her college organized a hair donation drive to make free wigs for cancer patients, she was one of the first ones to sign up.At least 70 students also joined Kavya in donating a lock of hair each.
While wigs are available for cancer patients, who lose hair as part of the chemotherapy, good quality ones are usually extremely expensive, making it unaffordable for many people. Good wigs made of natural hair is also rare because it often requires more than six sets of people’s entire hair to make one wig.
Kavya said growing up in a family, where they had several cancer patients including her grandmother, she could always relate to the various issues they face, besides the treatment. “Knowing the heart ache my grandmother bore, giving up a lock of hair is just a small change I have made to make a cancer patient feel better,” she said.
This is the third year that PSG institute of management has organized a hair donation drive. “We tied up with Green Trends salon which cuts and takes the locks of hair, makes it into wigs and distributes it among hospitals. We expect PSG Hospitals to receive a few wigs,” said Vijaya P, director, PSGIM.
“For women, hair makes a big part of their appearance. To give away a part of it feels like giving a small portion of yourself, but we encourage our students to be socially sensitive,” she said.
Along with the students, nearly 15 faculty members too joined in contributing a lock of hair. “ The salon suggested collecting just one lock of hair from the middle portion, so that it does not make any difference in appearance. This in turn will prompt more girls to come forward,” said K Kokilambal, who contributed a 10-inch long lock of her thick hair. “ I think this is the least we can do to help a cancer fighter feel better.”