Nelson's Amran Bhabra grows/cuts hair for cancer wigs
By Nelson Daily Staff
The Canadian Cancer Society website says it takes eight to 15 ponytails to create one real-hair wig.
Nelson’s Amran Bhabra did his part for Cancer by donating two lengths of hair to the next wig during a haircut Saturday at the Root 99 Hair Design Salon on Baker Street.
“I first started to grow my hair out for hockey because a lot of hockey players have long hair,” the 11-year-old Trafalgar student said minutes after getting the new look from stylist Tracie Schamhart at Root 99 Hair Design.
“Then my hair got so long that my mom and I decided we might as well just donate it to cancer.”
Cancer has hit most people hard with a loved one, friend or an acquaintance losing a fight to the dreadful disease.
Bhabra, who grew his hair for the past 18 months, is no different as a close friend, and Nelson Minor Hockey Association teammate, overcame a bout of cancer a few years ago.
“We’re in the same school but not in same class so we see each other a lot,” said Bhabra of his friend Dylan.
“We’re going to play on the same spring team play on played last season on same minor hockey team.”
According to the Canadian Cancer Society website, hair must be minimum eight inches in length; must be clean, dry and not swept of the floor; and not be chemically treated (bleach, colour or perm).
Schamhart was able to snatch a couple of lengths from Bhabra’s jet-black locks.
The website said thanks to thousands of generous Canadians from coast to coast, more 70,000 ponytails have been donated and made into wigs to help cancer surviours regain their confidence and sense of self.
As for Bhabra, he was of two minds after the cut.
“Not really,” he said when asked if he was happy with shorter hair, “but I can grow it out again . . . so I’m happy for that.”
“And it would be good to grow it out again and help some more people with cancer.”
Right on Amran! Right on!
