My hair for a cause! 24-yr-old shows the way

Mysuru-based woman donates her 18 inch long hair for cancer patients at a time when there is a huge demand-supply gap for hair to make wigs for such patients.

Shilpa P | NT

Mysuru: At 24 years, tresses matter a lot to a young woman and more so when she is on the career path and her parents have started looking around for a prospective groom. Swarna, who recently completed her MA in Mass Communication and Journalism from University of Mysuru thinks otherwise and has donated her hair to Bangalore Hair Donation Centre which has tied up with Indian Cancer Society.

The fact that she has begun her career in a local visual media firm has not deterred the Mysuru based lady from donating her 18 inch long hair to cancer patients. To inspire many more to do so, she has even come up with a video on hair donation, which has gone viral on social media.

There is a huge gap between demand and supply of wigs to needy cancer patients at hair donation centres. According to sources at Bangalore Hair Donation Centre, at least 700 people have donated hair this year but only 9.2 percent of the demand for wigs for cancer patients has been met. At least four to five ponies of 14 inch long hair is needed to get one wig done. As per a study, one of out of 8 cancer patients refuses to go for chemotherapy due to the fear of losing hair.

Speaking to News Trail, Swarna said, “A 27 year old female cancer patient in my neighbourhood who had lost her hair due to chemotherapy, covered her head with a dupatta when she came out as she could not afford to get an artificial wig. Moved by her plight, I decided to donate my hair six months ago. My parents Mahesh A R, and Pushpa were planning my wedding and were initially reluctant to agree to the hair donation. It took me six months to convince them. I told them that I would marry only after I established myself in my career and by that time my hair would grow back but cancer patients can’t get their hair back easily. They agreed and now, they are proud of me,” she said.

Reacting to Swarna’s noble deed, Shwetha (name changed), a cancer survivor said, “It’s extremely kind and thoughtful of her to do this. Most cancer patients know they will lose their hair and when it falls out in clumps, it’s very traumatic,” she said.

Swarna had two years ago, come up with a Whatsapp and facebook group named “Friends group of social service”. Through this group, she and her group members have helped many including beggar Ramaiah who has set up a tea stall. She has also helped 60 year old Chinchamma who was thrown out of her home when she was 9 year old and has been sleeping in temples for 51 years.