MIRA Dayal is a six-year-old with the biggest heart. To mark the beginning of the New Year, Mira cut off more than 30cm of her beautiful hair and donated it to the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA).
The Westville resident arrived at the salon with a huge smile on Wednesday morning.
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“I have been asking my mother when we would be going to go for a haircut,” she said with a cute smile.
Her mother, Sayuri, said the decision for Mira to chop off her hair for CANSA was sparked by two close family members who were diagnosed with cancer.
“Being diagnosed with the illness is an emotional journey, and for a woman to lose her hair just kills her self-esteem.
“What made matters worse was that it was so difficult to find a suitable wig for one of my cousins who has stage 3 of cancer,” said Sayuri.
After talking to her children and explaining what their aunt was going through, the six-year-old Mira felt that donating her hair was the right thing to do.
“She is a very kind girl who cares about the well-being of others. I wish this could be an encouragement to other young girls as well.
“Their hair grows back quickly, and with schools opening and everyone going for a haircut, why not donate to a good cause,” said Mira’s mother.
After sitting quietly during her haircut at Coyote Hair Studio, the little hero was more than impressed with her new cut.
“I love it and I am very happy!” she beamed!
CANSA’s Zanele Gumede said they were grateful to the young Mira for donating her hair to help cancer patients. “We appreciate it a lot. I hope more people, young and adult, can come on board and donate as more people are getting diagnosed with the illness,” she said.
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The association has been involved in the fight against cancer since 1931, and its purpose is to offer a unique, integrated service to the public and to all people affected by cancer.
Gumede said they are always in need of human hair to make the wigs for patients.
“We prefer the ponytail to be a minimum of 25cm. The hair is taken to our head office and about five people’s hair make up one wig,” explained Gumede.
She highlighted that the association relies on both human hair donations, as well as financial contributions.
“During the treatment, the patients become emotional and lose their self-esteem, others lose their hair, so the wigs help restore a sense of self-worth,” said Gumede.
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