Tahlia sheds long blonde locks for good cause

Ten-year-old Kaitaia girl Tahlia Foster knows how devastating a cancer diagnosis can be, and the effects of ongoing treatment. Her father was diagnosed with cancer last year, and continues his battle against it. And that prompted Tahlia to make a genuine sacrifice last week, on behalf of another cancer patient who she will probably never meet.

She arrived at hairdresser Coral Coulter's home in Kaitaia on Wednesday afternoon to have the long blonde hair she had been growing all her life cut off, and delivered to the Pantene Beautiful Lengths programme, where it will be used to manufacture a wig.

Tahlia's mother Ava looked more nervous than her daughter as the process began, but Coral, who had been trimming Tahlia's hair for the past couple of years, knew what she was doing. In a matter of moments she handed a hank of hair to Sandra Shackleton, who has been actively involved with the Beautiful Lengths programme (via the organisation Look Good ... Feel Better) for 15 years.

And she honoured her promise to Tahlia that she would be going home with a very nice new hairstyle.

Anyone who would like to follow her generous example will receive a very grateful response from Sandra. There are some conditions: hair must obviously be long enough for a wig-maker to use, and it must be its natural colour, otherwise known as "virgin".

Sandra said Tahlia was the third donor she had been personally involved with, but there had been others that she knew of. And every contribution would be very gratefully appreciated by the final recipient.

"Hair loss as a result of cancer treatment is a major concern for many patients," she said.

"A lot of changes have to be faced when you're being treated for cancer, but how you face the world shouldn't, and doesn't, have to be one of them."

Look Good ... Feel Better is a registered charity devoted to improving the quality of life of cancer patients, helping to restore their lost confidence and self-esteem.

It was founded by the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrances Association of New Zealand, whose member companies donated more than $1.5 million worth of products annually.

Every two-hour workshop, led by trained cosmetic volunteers, showed participants how to cope with the physical side-effects of their treatment, including the loss of eyebrows and eyelashes, dry, flaking skin and pigmentation changes. Every workshop also included a professional demonstration of wigs and turbans.

Look Good ... Feel Better has been established at all main oncology centres throughout the country.

Anyone who would like to make a (tax deductible) cash donation may do so via Look Good ... Feel Better, PO Box 1724, Auckland 1, or Sandra Shackleton at Shackleton's Amcal Chemist in Kaitaia. Sandra would also be delighted to talk to anyone who might consider donating hair.