Whilst many celebrated International Women’s Day yesterday in various events around town, 16 brave and beautiful women (and one gentleman!) took a razor to their heads and went bald to raise funds for MAKNA’s 4,500 patients nationwide whereby RM 9 million is required annually to financially assist cancer patients.
The pioneer of the project is Shamaine Ho who said that the idea came to her one day and saw it as a calling from a higher power even though she noted that she was an atheist. With zero funding and solely fueled by her fiery spirit she managed to rope in sponsors and donations by individuals and organisations voluntarily.
Every one of us would have had a close one afflicted with the disease and while we crumble emotionally as we watch them suffer physically it does not mean they should suffer mentally as well. Cancer is not a death sentence. You can choose to be depressed about it or you can fight it, survive and walk away from the disease a stronger and happier person with a renewed perspective on life.
The Bald is Empowering project not only hopes to provide financial aid but also positive support to help them cope with their struggles especially when it comes to women who lose their hair and breasts to chemotherapy.
The event was hosted by Megan Tan.
All the girls with their hair before the shaving begins.
Winnie Loo from A Cut Above, the official venue sponsor for the event, takes her first snip. Winnie said that even though she loved hair because it was important to women, she knew how important this event was to the community and that being bald was equally empowering.
The 16 women who participated in the Shirley Yeo, Andrea Au, Kiruba Devi, Samantha Lee, Nicole Foo, Jayne Eu, Mee Yin Chew, Mei Ann Tan, Ellena Chew, Asherra De Alex, Amanda Wong, Annie Ismeth, Shamaine Ho, Sze Yen Chan, Beatrice Leong, Siew Ling Soo as well as singer cum musician Dennis Lau.
Shamaine Ho is all smiles.
Samantha Lee
Kiruba Devi
Jayne Eu
Annie Ismeth
Clockwise from Top Left: Mee Yin Chew, Nicole Foo, Dennis Lau.
Beatrice Leong
Bald is Empowering successfully raised RM58,724.70 for MAKNA! Indeed it was a remarkable feat and a memorable one for all 16 ladies as well as the crowd who came to lend their support yesterday. All proceeds will help provide cancer related community services; fund awareness and education programmes; provide both the staff and facilities for screening and early diagnosis and give financial assistance to cancer patients towards the cost of treatment.
For the full set of images from the event, visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/lipstiqdotcom.
