Writers to "sacrifice vanity for charity"

Saw this on ITJourno Asia where they write about the IT media and PR industry in the region..

Writers to sacrifice "vanity for charity"
By Tan Lili
12/08/2005 02:58:19 PM

Let your hair down (and snipped) and join three Singapore-based IT journos in a head-shaving frenzy as they sacrifice their locks in a bid to raise funds for cancer-stricken children.

PC Magazine journalist Idran Junadi will be doing his deed on August 14, Sunday, 12.30PM, at Tampines Mall. His editor, Darren Ellis, and MediaConnect Asia’s very own deputy editor, Aaron Koh, will have their locks snipped at Plaza Singapura’s center stage on August 20, Saturday, also at 12.30PM.

The fundraising event, “Hair for Hope”, organised by Children’s Cancer Foundation, is aimed at helping cancer-suffering children cope through their treatment – chemotherapy and radiology. The children might lose their hair in the process of their treatment, and “Hair for Hope” seeks to prove that being bald is fine.

For Koh, doing his bit for charity has always been one a priority.

“A lot of people say that it’s great for me to sacrifice my vanity for charity,” said Koh.

“But I think the bravery comes from the children who are suffering from cancer. They are fighting against it everyday.

“By shaving my head, it tells the children it’s okay to go bald, because I will also be bald!”

Ellis agreed with Koh, and added that children should change their preconceived notion that humiliation comes with the loss of hair.

“Well, it's only hair. Why not?

“The problem with a lot of sick children undergoing chemotherapy is the perceived ignominy of losing your hair. Hair's nothing; it grows back.

“So in this way it's a show of solidarity with the kids, telling them it's okay to go bald,” said Ellis.

But for Ellis, this programme proved to be of a deeper, more sentimental value to him.

“Three weeks before I joined PC Magazine, my sister passed away from cancer. So shaving my head isn't such a big thing on that scale.

“And if by doing it you can raise some money that helps out, then that's great,” he said, adding that the person or the company who donates the highest sum has the honour of shaving his head.

To donate, contact Darren Ellis at dellis@comres.com.sg or Aaron Koh at aaron@mediaconnectasia.com. You can also go down to the event to make donations, and catch them being shaved in action!

According to the CCF press kit, the charity organisation’s mission is “to improve the quality of life of children with cancer and their families through enhancing their emotional, social and medical well-being”.

To find out more about the event, go to www.ccf.org.sg