Two Sault women - Megan Parlowe and Debra Meades - donated several inches of their hair for wigs to be made for people who have lost their hair through cancer treatments Saturday afternoon in front of a cheering audience at the George Leach Centre.
The hair cutting took place during an interval between Algoma University Thunderbirds women’s and men’s basketball games against the University of Windsor.
Four Sault College hairstyling program students were on hand with scissors for the hair cutting.
Parlowe’s hair was cut by Dax Rendell, the daughter of friend Lee Rendell.
Parlowe donated 10 inches of her hair while Meades had 14 inches of hair snipped.
Charitable organizations usually require a donation of at least seven inches of hair.
For Parlowe - Algoma University communications officer - it’s personal.
“I lost my dad to cancer. I lost my stepdad to cancer. I lost my grandfather to cancer. I hate cancer. So anything we can do to help, we will. Getting our hair cut was a small thing for us to do. Everyone has been touched by cancer,” Parlowe told SooToday.
“I’ve had friends donate their hair for wigs for people who have lost their hair through cancer treatments. My hair got quite long and I thought when I finally get it cut I should make an effort to donate it so it doesn’t go to waste. I saw that Megan was doing this so I thought it would be great to join in today. My family’s been affected by cancer as well so I thought I’d help out with the team to raise funds with Algoma University," Meades said.
Meades’ brother Sean Meades is an Algoma University Department of Community Economic and Social Development assistant professor.
The hair cutting took place as part of the annual USports Shoot for the Cure basketball games at the George Leach Centre. The initiative aims to raise awareness for breast cancer and donations to the Canadian Cancer Society.
Many attendees at Saturday’s games wore pink to show their support.
Donations to the Canadian Cancer Society were made at the door or through the Shoot for the Cure website.
“We signed up through the Algoma Thunderbirds to support the university’s athletics program’s efforts to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society. We sent emails, went through social media and contacted our friends and we raised a thousand dollars before the event. All the money at the door will go towards it, so we don’t know the total yet,” Parlowe said.
A final figure will be released later.
“Algoma University reached out to us and our hairstyling students have participated in this event every year for the past four years. It’s a great way for them to give back to the community and use their skills for good,” said Jordin Boniferro-Knight, Sault College hairstyling program coordinator.
There are 20 students in the program.
“I think it’s incredible. It’s really brave of Megan and Debra to do it, not only to cut off that much hair but also to do it in front of an audience,” Boniferro-Knight said.
Algoma University has held the annual Shoot for the Cure event for approximately 20 years.
“I think a lot of people don’t realize what hair means to everyone. If someone’s going through cancer treatments and loses their hair, the cancer treatment is obviously the most important thing, but losing their hair is a traumatic thing. So doing this is such a great way to show support to others who have lost their hair through cancer treatments,” Boniferro-Knight said.