Student donates precious locks to raise cancer awareness in Dubai

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

A Grade I student of DPS Dubai has donated her hair – all 12 inches of it – to spread awareness about breast cancer and other types of cancer while standing in solidarity with people battling the disease and the cancer survivors.

Mishika Jain, 7, may be small in years, but has shown a heart big enough to care for others. The compassionate tiny tot was so moved by the struggle of cancer sufferers that she thought of doing something to raise awareness among people about the need for early detection to fight the disease.

She hit upon the idea of donating her hair to a charity for the cancer-afflicted. And the person wielding the scissors was none other than her mother Neha Jain who encouraged her to go ahead.

Mishika's hair locked up in a bag for donation to the Hair for Hope foundation.

“I hope that whoever wears the wig made from my donated hair will get the confidence to face the world while battling cancer,” said Mishika.

When asked why she did not choose October – the breast cancer awareness month – for her initiative, Mishika said: “Spreading awareness about cancer cannot be confined to just a day or a month, but must be a lifelong commitment.”

The wonderful initiative was wholeheartedly supported by DPS Dubai and the mother-daughter duo were encouraged to carry out the hair-cutting and donation campaign during school assembly on November 3 to make students and teachers aware about cancer which is the second leading cause of deaths globally.

Mishika's mother Neha Jain hands over the hair to an official.

Talking about the initiative, Rashmi Nandkeolyar, Principal and Director of DPS Dubai said: “DPS Dubai counts itself as a socially responsible institution and regularly initiates such campaigns to inspire students and society at large to be compassionate citizens of tomorrow who dare to go the extra mile in making a difference and raising their voices on imperative and pertinent issues.”

The hair donation initiative by Mishika was carried out in collaboration with the Friends of Cancer Patients (FoCP), Hair for Hope India and Protect Your Mom organisations which are founded by Ms Premi Mathew.