Cuts for Cancer made its way to U of T this past Monday and Tuesday. The annual event, in its fourth year, allows long-haired U of T students-or just those with hair to spare-to shave their heads for a fee.
“I just came into Sid Smith and saw that this was going on. So I decided to do it,” said Susan Lapensee, a first-year student. She donated 10 inches of hair.
For Nina Manasan, getting her hair cut was not quite so easy. She tried to drop in on Monday but, due to lack of space, had to return on Tuesday. She didn’t mind the wait.
“Cancer is not an unfamiliar thing to me because a couple of people in my family had cancer. My general way of thinking is, ‘Why not?’ I figure, if I can shave my head and make someone else feel better, why not?”
Manasan was not particularly attached to her hair but admitted she was shocked to see all eight inches of it go at once.
The collected hair is donated to Angel Hair for Kids and Locks of Love, non-profit organizations that make wigs for children in need. Student stylists from Marca College of Hair & Design did the cutting at various locations across the U of T campus.
According to Sara Victor, the event’s coordinator, turnout this year was excellent: 115 people signed up online and about half as many signed up in person. A total of 172 donations were collected and $13,000 raised on Monday alone.
Last year, Cuts for Cancer raised over $24,000. Since then, turnout has only increased.
Victor saw some participants undergo drastic changes.
“One woman had 20-inch long hair and just shaved it all off,” she exclaimed. “That was incredible.”
A few students who tried to drop in without having signed up were turned away for not understanding that the event was for charity-not free haircuts.
“I’m going to be a new man with this haircut,” said Marc Trepanier (above), a freshly shorn fourth-year student, channeling Britney Spears. But few were brave enough to go from hippie to cueball.
“My parents would freak out,” remarked Jacqueline Leung, a fourth-year student.
-Josephine Lee
