In Brazil, Students Collect 1,000 Locks of Hair for Women with Cancer

During “Pink October,” a month dedicated to raising awareness about the prevention and early diagnosis of breast cancer, Seventh-day Adventist schools in the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina promoted the “Mechas com Paixão” (“Locks with Passion”) project. The initiative mobilized students and their mentors to support women undergoing cancer treatment. It encouraged the donation of locks of hair, scarves, and letters with messages of support.

The objective was to strengthen the self-esteem of women facing the disease, organizers said. The initiative brought together Adventist educational institutions in Joinville, Chapecó, Rio do Sul, São Francisco do Sul, and Indaial.

About 300 haircuts were performed on students, resulting in the collection of a thousand locks, along with 325 donated scarves and dozens of written letters. Since at least three locks in good condition between 15 and 20 centimeters (6-8 inches) long are needed to make a wig, it is estimated that the donations will enable the production of more than 300 wigs for women who have lost their hair during breast cancer treatment.

Awareness in Schools

Educational institutions participating in the initiative set up collection points throughout the month of October, promoting events that encouraged community involvement. Students also had the opportunity to cut their own hair during the initiative, which included lectures and educational activities to encourage the importance of empathy and mutual support.

Loren Dalfovo, mother of a student at Saguaçu Adventist School in Joinville, has been treated for breast cancer for four years. She shared about her life experience with students, helping to demystify the disease and remove stigmas related to it. “I share how I found out I had cancer and how I deal with it,” Dalfovos said. “I show students that, even during treatment, it is possible to have a life full of meaning. It all starts with early diagnosis and a positive attitude.”

Indaial Adventist School principal Rodrigo França highlighted how schools prepared to welcome the students and donations. “We created decorated and welcoming environments, with experienced and renowned hairdressers in each city, who volunteered to make the students feel at ease. This encouraged not only giving but also learning about the strength of collective cooperation,” he shared. The Indaial school was at the top of the list for donations during the initiative.

Ingrid Cristina, a student at the Indaial school, highlighted the importance of the initiative. “I am an athlete, and I have often seen friends of mine cut locks of hair to get to the right weight in various competitions,” Cristina said. “So, when I heard that this project would take place in the school, I didn’t think twice. It’s something I had wished to do for a long time.”

Community Impact

Representatives of the Women’s Network to Combat Cancer, the organization that received the donations, reinforced the positive impact of the initiative. Vânia Pereira, who beat the disease in 2021, praised the initiative at the São Francisco do Sul school. “It’s beautiful to see these kids in action in so many places. This is a donation that makes all the difference,” Pereira said.

At the end of the campaign, all donations were sent to the local units of the Women’s Network to Combat Cancer, which are responsible for making the wigs and distributing the items collected.

For Reison Vasques, director of Adventist Education in the northern region of the state of Santa Catarina, the project reflects the values promoted by the schools. “This initiative goes beyond the classroom. It teaches our students about empathy, altruism, and the impact of small gestures on the lives of others. It is an act of faith and solidarity that strengthens spiritual and social values,” he concluded.

The original version of this story was posted on the South American Division Portuguese-language news site.