Mangaluru: 65 donate hair for cancer patients

MANGALURU: Cancer can be conquered when the survivor has courage and self-confidence, said life skills trainer Vandana Kamath. She was speaking after inaugurating a hair donation programme for cancer patients by “Seeds of Hope” Muliya Foundation in collaboration with Shakthi PU College, Shaktinagar.
Kamath shared her experience and said chemotherapy is required during cancer treatment, during which the cells are destroyed, and hair falls out.
Dr Rohan Gatti, chief of surgical oncology department, Father Muller’s Hospital said the cancer patient should not lose heart. “Chemotherapy is the most important treatment in three phases. When all the process is complete, the hair falls out completely. It takes a long time to get back to normal. A cured patient spends days in embarrassment during this period. Wearing a wig can eliminate embarrassment. Hair is needed to make a wig,” he said, adding the interest and concern of the students of Shakti Pre-University College in collecting hair for wigs is commendable.
Muliya Foundation chairman Keshav Prasad said nine students from Puttur started the Seeds of Hope organization in 2020 under the leadership of Aadya Sulochana. “Today 14 members are actively working in this organization. Earlier, camps were organized in Puttur and Karkala and 300 people’s hair was collected, and 15 wigs were distributed. Each wig costs Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000 to make,” he added.
Ramesh K, Chief Advisor of Shakti Education Trust and Mangaluru University Syndicate member, said it has been possible to organize such programmes through student initiative and the institute will always encourage and cooperate with such work.
Mauna, a student at Shakti PU College, donated her hair and said donated hair grows back, hence there is nothing to lose in this initiative but to help others.
Sumana Polali, president of JCI Mangalore, Babita Shetty, president of Mangalore Beautician Institute and Sheetal Karkera, president of Inner Wheel Mangalore South were present.