SORRY, RAPUNZEL: Sharlene Lo who used to sport glorious long hair, opted to go bald.
KUCHING: With Go Bald 5 yesterday surging to a fairytale ending of 1,000 participants shaving their heads for Sarawak Children’s Cancer Society (SCCS), it looks like only ‘Rapunzel’ is left to step up to the pate to shed hers for the children’s sake.
With the longest hair on record in the fables, ‘Rapunzel’, sadly in the face of Go Bald 5, was fated to keep the ‘Brothers Grimm’ fairytale intact: an imprisoned ‘Rapunzel’ lowered her endless flow of braided hair down a watchtower, so Prince Charming could make his ascent to rescue the damsel in distress.
In the name of vanity for the fairer sex, the hundreds of ‘Rapunzels’ out there have made a big sacrifice, in making a very vivid stand with cancer-stricken children whose hair fall out with chemo- or radiotherapy.
One of them, Sharlene Lo, 13, spent two sleepless nights before she decided to join 100 Lodge School students to go bald for the Go Bald 5 campaign for the benefit of the cancer stricken or patients.
Hence, pointing to the bare fact that City One Megamall was yesterday witness to the largest gathering of bald pates ever since Go Bald was first held five years ago.
As of 4pm yesterday, a total of RM630,000 has been collected with around 750 people having their heads shorn before the session officially ends at 7.30pm.
COUNT ME IN: See doing his part.
According to Go Bald founder Rodney Wong, the fifth installment of Go Bald this year is looking into collecting RM1.5 million to assist cancer patients and create awareness among the public by contributing to the well-being of cancer-stricken kids.
“Go Bald 5 aims to assist SCCS in terms of food and accommodation for patients seeking treatment in Sarawak General Hospital (SGH), transportation subsidy for families travelling to Kuching for treatment.”
“We also look into other needs such as cost of transplant which were not provided by SGH and inward education for school going patients,” he said in a press conference at the event which was held at City One Megamall.
Wong added that proceeds from the event also goes into creating public education to raise awareness on childhood cancer, outreach program for palliative patients, support group program and recreational activities.
He added that two earlier events in Miri had successfully collected around RM700,000 with the first held on May 1 in Delta Mall, Sibu collecting RM200,000 and Bintang Megamall Miri on May 12 collecting RM600,000.
“The Go Bald 5 this year focuses very much on children participation and the event today also saw the largest participation from Lodge School students with around 100 students joining in to shave their head for the cause,” he elaborated.
“In fact, we had those aged six to eight participating today and it is heartwarming indeed to see such support coming at an early age,” he added.
He also said that the ‘Go Bald’ event had successfully collected higher donation each year from RM250,000 during its first year in 2009, RM450,000 in 2010, RM1 million in 2011 and RM1.2 million last year.
On another note, SCCS event chairperson Jodie Sim said SCCS is still opening doors for its ‘Go Bald’ satellite shave session to any groups interested to step forward for the cause.
“We will organise a satellite session for any group with a minimum of 20 and those interested can directly call us,” she said.
YOUNG AND WARM-HEARTED: Mohd Rizal poses with two young participants of Go Bald 5.
RM160,000 donated by companies participating in head shaving session
Meanwhile, a total of RM160,000 was handed over earlier at the launching of the event yesterday by several private companies which participated in the head shaving session.
The Go Bald 5 is sponsored by CityOne as the venue sponsor, and hair salon partners Ray’s Salon, Hair Plus Design and Absolute Hair Studio.
Also present at the event and shaving their heads yesterday were SCCS president Mohd Rizal Sahari and Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee
How.
Those who wish to contribute to the ‘Go Bald’ campaign can do so by donating straight to SCCS, or picking up the ‘Go Bald’ pledge card to solicit fund.
The public can contact SCCS at 012-8071116 or visit www.gobald.com.my or alternatively www.sccs.org.my.
IN RECORD NUMBERS: Crowds gather to support participants during the shaving session at City One Megamall.
CORPORATE SUPPORT: A representative of Kenbest Sdn Bhd handing over their contribution of RM100,000 to Rizal.