This Saturday, Richmond-based Wigs for Kids BC is holding its big fundraiser of the year, the annual cut-a-thon in Steveston.
On that day, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Collective Beauty Studio on Moncton Street will be hosting the event, with stylists and estheticians onating their time to cut and style hair and do gel nail manicures, with all proceeds going to Wigs for kids BC.
Haircuts are a minimum donation of $40, gel manicures are $30 and, if you collect a minimum $40 in pledges, the cut is free.
On the same day across the street, the Steveston Seafood House will be hosting a brunch from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and dinner from 5 p.m. to closing, with partial proceeds going to Wigs for Kids
The charity will be collecting some of the cut hair to make into free wigs for kids who have lost their hair due to cancer or other serious illnesses.
They also help families financially with the costs of feeding supplies and certain cancer medications not covered by MSP.
Months in advance of the event, the charity challenges people to grow their hair to raise as much money as possible.
One of them is Richmondite Sean Nolan, a North Vancouver firefighter who has been growing his hair in honour of his sister, Audrey, who was diagnosed with leukaemia at three years old, before battling on for another four years until she died age seven.
The Steveston High grad remembers his sister losing her hair more than once while spending a lot of time at BC Children’s Hospital.
“To experience the diagnosis of cancer in a child is an extremely heavy challenge for any family to face,” wrote Nolan.
“What is not very well known is the added financial burden associated with cancer treatment.
“I'm doing this to help reduce the financial stress on the family, so others don’t have to go through what Audrey went through (and) so children can have access to quality wigs, so they can be kids.
“It is a privilege to be honouring my sister in this way.”
Wigs for Kids’ Bev Friesen said the fundraiser is coming at a great time, as they have just committed $45,000 to BC Children’s Hospital’s new driving program, where volunteers drive the child and parent/s to the hospital for treatment and home again when a vehicle is unavailable to them.
“We are thrilled that they no longer will have to take transit after treatments like chemotherapy,” added Friesen.
Pledge forms for the cut-a-thon can be found at WigsForKidsBC.com. Call 604-370-0276 to book your salon appointment.
