When eight-year-old Elizabeth Van Immerzeel told her mom she might like to get her long hair cut, mom Cheryl thought perhaps her daughter could donate her hair to a cause.
After doing some research, Cheryl discovered Wigs for Kids BC, and learned donations of hair can be used to make wigs for children dealing with cancer.
“I told Elizabeth that sometimes children lose hair when being treated for cancer,” Cheryl said.
Once Elizabeth committed, Cheryl decided she’d donate her hair, and then little sister Zadie-Lynn, 3, piped up she wanted her hair cut too.
Normally wigs cost about $2,000 each to make, however, if hair is donated, it can bring the cost down to as low as $800.
The Van Immerzeels have been fundraising in their neighbourhood at Miocene, and have raised almost $800, but because between the three of them they will have quite a bit, they are hoping to raise enough for two wigs.
Smiling Cheryl said her husband has never seen her with short hair.
On Tuesday Cheryl made appointments for them on June 6, and said Zone 4 in Williams Lake is donating the cuts.
The wigs are made in Vancouver at Eva’s Wigs, said Wigs for Kids BC chairperson Bev Friesen.
When a child loses hair to cancer or other serious illnesses and chooses to get a wig, Eva’s will measure the child’s head and discuss length and colour.
It usually takes about four weeks to make the wig. The wigs are paid for through the fundraising efforts of Wigs for Kids.
Wigs for Kids started in 2006 when some good friends got together and realized they had a common goal.
It is a “stand alone” program out of BC Children’s Hospital, run by volunteers with no overhead costs, Friesen said, adding 100 per cent of funds raised go to help these kids and their families.
“Besides providing wigs for kids throughout BC we also help families with the costs of feeding supplies and certain meds not covered by the government. We have helped over 500 kids and their families since we started the program in 2006.”
Cheryl said if anyone in the community wants to donate, she will be accepting donations for a few more weeks.