The kindest cut for cancer

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Cook_Sarah.jpg” caption=”Development officer Sarah Cook donated nine inches of her hair to the Pantene Beautiful Lengths campaign. Photo by Susan Bubak.”]Sarah Cook gave the gift that keeps on growing. The development officer cut nine inches of her hair last month and donated it to the Pantene Beautiful Lengths campaign, which uses the hair to make wigs for women who have lost their hair due to cancer treatment.

“Many members of my family have been touched by cancer, including my grandmother, grandfather and aunt,” said Cook. “Watching them battle this disease, I felt very powerless. By donating my hair, I felt like I was actually able to do something to help someone and it feels good to be able to help.”

Cook also donates to cancer research at McMaster. When she got married last fall, she and her husband made a donation to the Canadian Cancer Society in memory of her aunt.

“It was a good way for us to include my aunt in our day and support a cause we feel is important,” said Cook.

The campaign's goal is to collect one million inches of donated hair. Actress and spokesperson Hilary Swank recently had her hair cut for the campaign on Oprah.