Latest news with #TheCherianFoundation

Time of India

More men and boys join the hair donation movement

Chennai: Pranava Das and Madhava Das were the only two kids in their school with permission to grow out their hair. They sought written permission from their principal and even promised to keep it neat with hairbands and clips. But why? The purpose was to donate their hair to make wigs for cancer survivors. "When my brother Madhava had a fall, he needed stitches on his head, which meant shaving off his hair. I shaved mine off too, so he wouldn't feel like the odd one out. It made me understand what cancer patients go through. It was then that we decided to grow out our hair and donate it," says nine-year-old Pranava. This sparked a ripple effect in their school, inspiring other young boys to grow out their hair for the cause. Supporting these efforts is The Cherian Foundation, an NGO dedicated to providing healthcare to underprivileged communities, which is celebrating donating more than 2,000 wigs to cancer survivors across India through its event 'Gift Hair, Gift Confidence' (GHGC) on Saturday. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai "The narrative is shifting, and it's not just women and young girls who are donating their hair anymore; men are sharing this responsibility too. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Beat the Heat With These Genius Summer Tricks Learn More Undo Many school kids in the city are getting permission from their schools to grow out their hair and are donating it, while men are even forgoing decades of tradition for the cause," says Sara Benjamin Cherian, head of the campaign . Harsh Singh, a Sikh man, decided to let go of his tradition despite what his family felt, because he just could not see people struggling. "Being a medical student, I know how expensive wigs are, and I've seen how they also help patients cope with the disease, as they offer them some sense of normalcy." A 2015 study by Adyar Cancer Institute found that patients who wore wigs during treatment had higher confidence and morale than those who did not, says Sara. The programme benefits underprivileged communities by providing wigs along with guidance on their care through in-person sessions and tutorial videos. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Raksha Bandhan wishes , messages and quotes !