{"id":1069,"date":"2015-11-06T11:47:13","date_gmt":"2015-11-06T11:47:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/biosciences\/?p=1069"},"modified":"2015-11-06T11:47:13","modified_gmt":"2015-11-06T11:47:13","slug":"biosciences-phd-student-to-have-long-hair-cut-for-charity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/biosciences\/2015\/11\/06\/biosciences-phd-student-to-have-long-hair-cut-for-charity\/","title":{"rendered":"Biosciences PhD student to have long hair cut for charity"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Cassie1\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Cassie Mackenzie, a\u00a0PhD student in the School of Biosciences<\/a>, is bravely having her luscious locks of hair cut off\u00a0in aid of\u00a0the Little Princess Trust on 7 November. We asked Cassie what had inspired\u00a0her to make such a bold move for the Little Princess Trust?<\/p>\n

This year has been a bit of an emotional rollercoaster, her Nana, (her idol), is celebrating her first year cancer-free. It\u2019s the best Christmas present I could ask for! However, having lost one friend to cancer, she has received devastating news that another very close friend is losing their battle. It\u2019s such a brutal disease that leaves you feeling utterly helpless. I\u2019ve always been keen on fundraising for charities, but since my Nana\u2019s diagnosis I have been particularly enthusiastic to support the cause. A person\u2019s hair is such a huge part of their identity. It\u2019s my choice to do this, knowing my hair WILL grow back. I can only imagine how devastating it must be to have no control over the matter. Someone described it very well to me earlier – \u201ca person\u2019s hair is their crown\u201d.<\/p>\n

So how are you feeling about having your hair cut on Saturday?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Every time I think of backing out I just remind myself, if I hate the idea this much, imagine how absolutely heart breaking it is for someone who loses their hair to cancer or another illness. At the end of the day, for me, it\u2019s just hair. Hair that will grow back! For someone else, it is the confidence to live their life with a bit more normality.<\/p>\n

Have you made any plans for further fundraising events for the charity?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I am a keen runner and I\u2019m participating in Judgement Day Goes Nuts in December, which is a 6K obstacle course. I also plan on doing lots of runs next year, from half to full marathons, and of course, Race for Life. It\u2019ll be a fairly long while before I can donate hair again!<\/p>\n

And finally, what would it mean to you to reach your target fundraising goal?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Honestly, the initial goal of this was to just donate my hair to a good cause, but I have been completely overwhelmed by the generosity and support of everyone around me.<\/p>\n

If you want to sponsor Cassie and her brave hair donation to the Little Princess Trust, visit her JustGiving page: <\/em>https:\/\/www.justgiving.com\/Cassie-Mackenzie2\/<\/u><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n