Dean of Engineering Dr. Fraser Forbes and the Engineering Students' Society (ESS) executive team had their hair shaved off in support of cancer research at the 13th annual ESS Head Shave. The event has raised a whopping $10,000 in donations. The money will go to the Alberta Cancer Foundation to test cancer medications.
35 University of Alberta students, alumni, and Faculty of Engineering staff had their heads shaved to raise money for cancer research at the 13th annual Engineering Students' Society (ESS) Head Shave November 23.
The Head Shave has raised a total of over $10,000 in cash and online donations - more than double last year's money. The donations will go towards clinical trials to test new cancer medications.
"In the long run, this money will help develop new cancer treatment," said Amie St.Arnaud, Development Coordinator at the Alberta Cancer Foundation.
For many of the participants, the fund raiser was very personal, as cancer has deeply touched the lives of their loved ones. For others, supporting the cause was just the right thing to do.
"On Sunday, my grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer," said Saadiq Sumar, a Faculty of Engineering alumnus who has raised an astounding $5,000 to help advance cancer research.
Sumar's family has been fighting a tough battle with the disease: earlier this year, they lost a 19-year-old relative to bone cancer. In support of his family and the Alberta Cancer Foundation, Sumar dyed his hair pink and had his locks shaved at the event.
Emily Quecke, a fourth-year environmental engineering student, said "I've been meaning to do it for a couple of years. Now that I had a family member and a friend affected by cancer, I feel I have a personal reason to do it.""It's important to get involved in things that are meaningful to you, and the University creates such a wonderful platform for this," she added.
"My grandfather, my aunt, and my dad had cancer. It's important for everyone to do this," added Willard Farmer, a first-year engineering student who had his long blond hair shaved to support cancer research.
With the risk of getting cancer higher than ever, talking about it is very important, said Tim Buckland, a three-time cancer survivor who is now a Program Investment Intern at the Alberta Cancer Foundation. Buckland was first diagnosed with cancer at the age of 18. Six month later, doctors found two other types of cancer. After four rounds of agonizing chemotherapy, Tim made it his life goal to help cancer patients get the help they need.
"Most students don't realize it can happen to them. The money you've raised today is going towards someone you know," said Buckland.
Run by the Engineering Students' Society, the annual Head Shave dates back to 2003 when engineering alumni Gary and Graeme Wicentowich's father, Ron, was diagnosed with cancer. The family and friends raised $12,000 for the Alberta Cancer Foundation at that event.
"The Head Shave has been here for 13 years. We want to continue the tradition," said Angela Xui, a third-year chemical engineering student and the Head Shave coordinator with the ESS.
"It's a universal goal to cure cancer. So the Head Shave should be a university-wide initiative," added Daanish Hamid, a third-year chemical engineering student and Associate Vice President Events with the ESS, of his plans to expand the initiative in the years to come.