LKCMedicine and SCELSE show support for children with cancer
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To show their support for children with cancer and raise funds for the Children’s Cancer Foundation (CCF), 15 individuals went bald on 11 June at the Multi-Purpose Hall of the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine) Clinical Sciences Building.
The shavees parted with their locks at a Hair for Hope satellite event, jointly organised by LKCMedicine and The Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE).
The event had several fundraising activities such as the sales of candy floss, popcorn, bake sales and CCF merchandise.
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CCF senior executive for communications Ms Aisha also gave an educational talk on Hair for Hope, the non-profit organisation’s signature outreach event and the only head-shaving event in Singapore that aims to raise funds and awareness of childhood cancer. Posters on childhood cancer were also displayed during the event.
By 5pm on 11 June, the event has raised more than S$26,000 from booth sales and online donations.
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Speaking at the event, LKCMedicine Vice-Dean (Faculty Affairs) and Assistant Dean of Years 1 & 2 Professor Michael Ferenczi said the medical school is training future doctors who put patients at the centre of their exemplary care.
“By having this event, it fits well with the ethos of our School. Our staff and faculty who have volunteered to shave their heads today is a sign of the School’s ethos and we are grateful to all for considering this act. Once you shave, you become CCF’s ambassador in helping to raise awareness of childhood cancer among your friends, family and colleagues,” he added.
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The ceremonial shavees included LKCMedicine Year 4 student Alexander Soo and SCELSE Senior Assistant Manager (Science Communications) Vicki Yang.
Commenting on why he wanted to shave Alexander Soo said, “I want to show support for children with cancer. Having cancer doesn’t have to define who you are and I hope the children know that there are people out there who are rooting for them”.
A total of eight shavees (including Alexander) were from LKCMedicine. They included LKCMedicine Assistant Dean, Clinical Communication Training & Student Welfare Dr Tanya Tierney, LKCMedicine Director, Heritage Centre and Medical Library Ms Caroline Pang, Senior Assistant Director (Development, Planning and Strategic Relations) Ms Avery Wee, LKCMedicine Research Fellow Dr David Koschut, LKCMedicine E-Learning/IT Systems & Services manager Vincent Lee, as well as a father-son duo (LKCMedicine Assistant Manager Communications and Outreach Tan Yoke Hwee and Evan Tan).
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“In my role as Assistant Dean, Clinical Communication, I encourage our students to really consider what patients are experiencing so that they can really understand their worries and issues,” said Dr Tanya. “By shaving for Hair for Hope, I am opening myself up to one small element of a patient’s experience as baldness often results in people staring or asking questions. Inviting this kind of attention can provide opportunity for raising awareness. Of course I am hoping to raise lots of money as well!”
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Similarly, Ms Wee said she is more than ready to shave her had for a good cause. “It is a small act to show my support for cancer patients who have to deal with hair loss and to raise funds as well as awareness of childhood cancer. To some people, it is only hair and it will grow back and while I belong to this group of people, it still took me several days to decide to do it. Now I understand a little better how losing one’s hair completely can be distressing,” she added.
This is not the first time LKCMedicine has organised such an event. On 10 July 2013, 12 staff volunteered to have their heads shaved to raise funds and awareness of childhood cancer. They raised more than S$13,457.
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