SA to shave heads for cancer
Brad Morgan
1 April 2003
The Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) is gearing up for an attempt on the world record for the greatest number of heads shaved in 24 hours.
It's all part of a campaign to raise funds for CANSA. The aim is to eclipse the record of 55 000 shaved heads set in Australia last year, when Aus $8.5-million was raised for the Leukaemia Foundation.
CANSA Shavathon 2004 will run over a 24-hour period from 2pm on Friday 2 April to 2pm on Saturday 3 April. For a donation fee of R50, people will be able to have their heads shaved or colour-sprayed in support of CANSA. The target is R8-million.
For those electing to have a hair cut, it will be a pretty drastic number-one cut, while for those who simply cannot bear to part with their tresses, their hair will be colour-sprayed with a professional hair spray that will wash out after one wash.
Check the box on the right for all the Shavathon venues countrywide. All hair is to be used for an
environmental project, so participants are asked to please wash their hair on the day of their cut!
Showing empathy
Campaign spokeswoman Michelle Fagan explains the reasoning behind the Shavathon: "We decided to hold a Shavathon because most cancer patients lose their hair during chemotherapy. By taking part in this event, the public can really show their empathy for cancer sufferers and celebrate a cancer survivor's life."
Cancer is a widespread disease that, according to Fagan, affects one in four South Africans. "Of this percentage", she says, "approximately half are diagnosed too late for any form of curative option. CANSA has repositioned itself to focus on prevention, and how healthier lifestyle choices can have significant impact on the occurrence of this disease."
A huge number of corporate sponsors have come on board to support the project, showing that South African business is firmly behind the Shavathon.
Tannie Evita supports CANSA
Well-known anti-Aids campaigner and comedian Pieter Dirk Uys is showing his support by presenting all proceeds from a special performance of his latest show, "The End is Naai", to CANSA.
It takes place at Montecasino in Johannesburg on 2 April. "Tannie Evita will urge all members of her beautiful audience to go bald, go green and go vote!", says Pieter Dirk Uys.
The Shavathon also boasts a huge number of celebrities as patrons of the event, including former Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu, World Cup winning Springbok Joel Stransky, DJ Mark Pilgrim, former SA cricketer Fanie de Villiers, well-known socialite Edith Venter, cycling guru Andrew McLean, models Christina Storm and Cindy Nel, Idols winner Heinz Winckler, comedian David Kau, singing star Yvonne Chaka Chaka, R&B singer Galatia, and DJ Shado Twala.
South Africans can register online for the Shavathon at CANSA Shavathon 2004.
Registration can be done individually or as a corporate, club, school, university or ex-pat.
Plenty of prizes are up for grabs for those that register, including two first-class tickets for a couple to London, 10 B&B weekends at any Holiday Inn, three romantic dinners valued at R500, Justine and Avon hampers valued at R2 500, a weekend for two at the Zevenwacht Country Inn, and a six-month national premier membership to Planet Fitness.
So go ahead and register online, or call 0867 177 111.
My hair is coming off …
| 
