Funds not over, Bald Is Empowering

14 days ago...

16 ladies & 1 man...

Baring it all...

In Bald for Fund..

Benefiting Cancer Patients..

It's... (drum roll)

Bald Is Empowering!!!

(I imagined ads for American Idol or any other reality based shows, e.g. Iron Chef & etc while writing that)

I am grateful for the day that I met Shamaine Ho through Facebook (yes FB, you gave me so much. OK, i promise to love you long time) and lucky to be part of this meaningful cause. Without her, us baldies (for the 'Before' pictures of the 16 ladies, click here) will never get to participate, empowering ourselves and others, enabling sponsors to participate and last but not least : helping cancer patients by encouraging monetary donation from both corporations and public.

Attendance for the Bald for Fund was very encouraging, endless stream of words of support coupled with surprise and admiration for the ones lining up to be shaved. Some laughed, some tear a little and most are just overwhelmed by the loving, positive energies on the floor that day. See for yourself :

Bald For Fund @ A Cut Above, MidValley for MAKNA, NCSM & BCWA

Good music, good food & door gifts.. ooh la la~

Donate, donate, donate!

Thank you encouraging, supportive crowd!

The ladies and their last shot before the final cut~

None of them are the least bit worried or regretted their decision, KUDOS!

There's no turning back, last group photo before snip snip :)

Wondering what's on their mind at that moment~

Mine was : Oh my god, it's so cold!

Look at all the cheery faces! Annie got an Angpau and can't stop smiling!

Have you seen that many bald heads in 1 spot before?

(If you want to see more pictures, go to Bald Is Empowering's Facebook page)

I've never had the chance to thank any of the volunteers on that day but THANK YOU volunteers!! You & Shamaine's hard work made Bald for Fund happened for us baldies ^^

Even if you are not there, I am sure the loving, happy energy is glowing off your monitor screen right now (no, no, not like Poltergeist). Bald for Fund might've happened 14 days ago but let's not let the funds stop now! Cancer patients still need you and you can still donate through Bald is Empowering via Simply Giving (All funds go to MAKNA) up until Saturday, 31st March 2012. Don't worry about the USD 1 charged by PayPal, it's for them to verify your credit card and they will reimburse your USD 1 later. If they failed to do so, you can contact Simply Giving via email : help@simplygiving.com and they will highlight this issue to PayPal on your behalf.

As of 12th march 2012, collection to date has reached RM 76,2350.80. Let's all work together and help Bald Is Empowering achieve their RM 200,000.00 collection mark to help cancer patients! If you are still unsure or worry about the level of transparency practised, go to Bald Is Empowering's website and browse through their Donation List and Beneficiaries for their list of beneficiaries. Hope that helps :)

Before I bid adieu, here's a an interview with TV2's Hello On Two :

BALD Is BOLD : Bald Is Empowering

You know the phrase ‘Your hair is your crowning glory’? So I’d imagine your response would probably be the same with most when told that someone you know is taking ‘em hair to the shavers. Of all the responses, my favorite was my mom’s : “When? What? Your sister is getting married 2 days after and you’re shaving it bald?”. 

LOL! Way to go mom~

As women (not forgetting the men too), we’ve been brought up bearing grand obsession towards our ‘crowning glory’. For example : 

1) The hair is the richest ornament of women – Martin Luther

2) Women…. Who made 'em? God must have been a… genius. Their hair. They say that the hair is everything, you know? Have you ever buried your nose in a mountain of curls, and just wanted to go to sleep forever? – Bo Goldman

3) Hair brings one’s self-image into focus; it is vanity’s proving ground. Hair is terribly personal, a tangle of mysterious prejudices – Shana Alexander

Since it is such a treasured item, I’m taking it all off on 8th March 2012 along with 15 other ladies and 2 other gentlemen (Francis Low & Dennis Lau) in exchange for your donation : 

Amanda Mun

Andrea Au

Ann

Annie Ismeth

Asherra De Alex

Beatrice Leong

Chan Sze Yen

Chew Mee Yin

Ellena Chew

Jayne Eu

Kiruba Devi

Mdm Soo Siew Leng

Nicole Foo

Samantha Lee

Shamaine Ho

Shirley Yeo

Bald Is Empowering’s mission is simple : 

Raise a total of RM200,000 to help the many needy cancer patients in Malaysia. 

Here I sincerely plead for your generosity and for you to open your heart. Spare a few of your precious minutes by drawing out those dollar notes, getting your credit cards on a standby or issuing a check; simply by contributing to Bald Is Empowering in support of this cause : CANCER.

This paragraph taken from Bald is Empowering’s info page says it all :

“Cancer wasn't really a choice for many of our friends and family.

We wept with our loved ones as they face the deterioration of their mental and physical health. And through visitation, we have also seen the many out there who face an even worse enemy; financial challenges. 

None of us are doctors nor are we well off. But we do know that the little that we give will go a long way. By helping those less fortunate than us, in whatever way possible, we aid them in knowing that they are valued by others. Thereby channeling a more positive environment compared to the negative situation that they are in.

We believe this is not only an act of goodness or financial aid but most importantly an act of love in the spirit of community giving and support.”

Brainchild of Shamaine Ho, a mother of 3 and a Workshop & Event Organizer who, since December 2011 has been searching for volunteers willing to part with their hair thus drumming in more support and bring further attention to this meaningful cause.  

You can show your support by : 

1) ‘Like’ Bald Is Empowering’s Facebook page and ‘Share’ it with your friends.

2) Attend the BALD for Fund! event with your friends and family

Event Date : 8/3/2012 (International Women's Day)

Venue         : Mid Valley A Cut Above

3) Make online credit card donation through Simply Giving or go to Bald Is Empowering’s website (under Donate Now’s tab) to find more ways on how to donate

4) Be a volunteer and email them to : info@bald-is-empowering.com

5) Be a sponsor. Give them all the help they may need, not just financially but also in kind by sponsoring and spreading words about this project

Beneficiaries are MAKNA Bursary Program where donations collected between 25th January - 7th March 2012 will directly benefit them and funds received on the 8th March 2012’s Bald for Fund event will go to both National Cancer Society of Malaysia and Breast Cancer Welfare Association

Cicero says, “It is foolish to tear one’s hair in grief, as though sorrow would be made less by baldness”. I would, however, wish to add : 

“Why not exchange it for other’s monetary donation instead?”