Ever thought that a simple act of cutting your hair can serve a higher purpose? How is this routine which we carry out from time to time related to cancer awareness, if at all?
Well, on 27 August 2011, a motley bunch of seven officers from SCDF participated in a Hair for Hope 2011 satellite event held at Eastpoint Mall, with the main event held earlier at Vivocity from 23-24 July. Into its ninth consecutive year, the Hair for Hope movement is a fund-raising event organised by the Children’s Cancer Foundation to simultaneously raise awareness of childhood cancer. The shaven heads are powerful imageries to the children that it is alright to be bold, with the participants also symbolically identifying with their ordeals.
SCDF officers arriving in full anticipation - 'Before Pic'
Prior to the event, the officers had arrived at the venue and sat down over cups of coffee at the breakfast table to ponder over life without their hair. No, this discourse did not affect our decisions to say goodbye to our hair, albeit temporarily. Soon, we registered and queued up for the event. However, due to the overwhelming turnout, we found themselves having a queue number starting from 64. This translated into a few hours’ wait on the sidelines, but the show of public support was indeed uplifting.
The event started with a high when with a lady shed her beautiful hair after raising a significant amount from online pledges. Her hair shaving sent the event up an octave. Our patient wait was soon rewarded with a call up the stage. The professional hairdressers gave us a quick, clean-shaven head in mere minutes. We were then pleasantly surprised when a nearby eatery offered a free bowl of soup for all participants, a literally heart-warming gesture.
All in the name of Charity
Spontaneity, fun and inspiration – all in the name of charity! We are all already looking a-head to the event next year.
' Way to go lads' - 'After Pic'
CPT Zhou Yansheng is the Senior Staff Officer in charge of data, in Hazardous Materials Department.
(Coincidently, he is also the second from the left in the above picture)
Filed under: Events, In the Spotlight, Uncategorized Tagged: | charity, cut, hair, officers, singapore civil defence force, volunteer
