Donate your hair

I'VE MOVED FROM HERE. PLEASE CHECK OUT MY NEW WEBSITE WHERE I SHARE MORE INTERESTING INFORMATION - www.dharaparekh.com 

Charity is never meant to be announced, but charity, like a lot of other important issues needs awareness. A part of this donation process was to spread awareness and encourage others to donate, specially if one has access to a huge number of crowd, which I do. Therefore, instead of cherishing this noble feeling all by my myself, I thought of sharing it.

About a week ago I chopped off 14 inches of my hair to donate to a non-profit organization called Children With Hair Loss. When I read about hair donations on a website, I knew the very second I wanted to do it. After doing a bit of research, I found CWHL. Adults can deal with  understand physical changes like losing hair, but children can't. They go through a lot of mental crises. They lose their confidence and self-esteem. They are often bullied which pushes them more on the dark side. Organization like CWHL accepts hair along with monetary donations. The donated hair is used to make wigs which is then given to children with hair loss, for FREE! (the cost of which could go up to $2000/above 1 lac rupees).

Why donate hair?
Human hair is precious even though it is available in plenty. Almost all of the human hair is supplied to the beauty industry, where they are made in to wigs, which are then sold for unbelievable profits. Tons of hair shaved in India for religious purposes is also supplied to Europe (check the documentary here) where they are sold for profits. This buying and selling of hair business leaves only artificial hair available at cheap prices.
Children and adults suffering from serious diseases like cancer, go through hair loss because of chemotherapy and other hormonal changes. Buying a real hair wig is almost impossible for a normal person with all the heavy medical bills they are already paying. Organization like these, with the help of our donated hair, help these patients gain physical normality and self-confidence in the form of hair wigs. Hair is just a superficial part of our body, but it does bring a lot of changes to our appearance, which is again a superficial trait, but it means a lot to a person who has already lost a lot of their body to evil diseases.

Why I donated?
I am not going to lie. I had second thoughts. I always loved long hair. The last hair cut I had was around 2 years ago. I never had short hair for almost all my life. Even though I knew I wanted to do it from the very moment I read about it, I always kept wondering if I'll be okay to accept this huge change. Then I saw these pictures on CWHL's Facebook page.

And I thought, to hell with my hair. I would give everything that I can to bring that kind of smile to a suffering child. I didn't have to think anymore. I went to the salon next day, got as much hair as I can in a ponytail, chopped according to their guidance, filled their form, put my hair in a ziploc bag and mailed them.

Why CWHL? 
I chose CWHL because,
1. It was for children.
2. It is not just for children who lose their hair because of cancer, but also for children suffering from Alopecia, Trichotillomania, burns and other disorders that causes hair loss.
3. It is old and trustworthy. No scandals or cheating.

Celebrities donating to CWHL

 4. Unlike other organizations, they accept colored, chemically treated or gray hair. (mine was ombre colored). Other organization also demands for minimum of 10 to 12 inches. CHWL is okay with a minimum of 8 inches.

How to donate hair in India?
I researched about hair donation in India and found these two organizations. I do not speak for them or guarantee their integrity. If anyone in India is interested in donating their hair, they can do a little more research and go for it. Please let me know if you are aware of other such organizations in India.

Hair For Hope - India (an international organization)
HairAid

UPDATE FROM AUGUST 2018: I recently donated my hair in India to a very reputable organization called Cope with Cancer. The procedure is very simple as mentioned above. 

For more details, visit their website -  https://www.copewithcancer.org/hair-donation.

Cutting your hair is painless unlike donating your blood or an organ, and it grows back. So what is there to lose? Go for it! You can make someone's day life by doing something as simple as this. For us, it's just an accessory, for someone it's something to look forward to on a crappy day.

If you are running a hair salon or a beauty parlor, you can initiate and help this cause by encouraging your customers to donate hair or sending the chopped hair to non-profit organizations like these.
If any of the readers donate their hair, do share your pictures or stories with me on my Facebook page and I will be more than happy to share them. It is the action of one that encourages the action of second. Together we can make a difference and bring positive changes to unfortunate lives.

Lastly, I want to dedicate this donation to one of the most important person of my life, Nidhee. 
This is for you my love.
I miss you SO MUCH. I am sure this will make your day, wherever you are. I know you are smiling right now. :)

One dream at a time

On April 8th, I lost one of the most special person of my life. Her name was Nidhee.

Who was Nidhee?

Me: "Chemo must be painful, isn't it?"
Nidhee: "Yes it is, but it gives me a pimple free skin. So that's good." (with a silly little smile on her beautiful face)

That was her. The most positive person I knew. Who always saw the silver lining.

In social terms, she was my sister-in-law, but that was just another relationship that brought us together. In reality, she was my best friend, my comfort in solace, an ear to my secrets, my source of endless laughter, my girlfriend, my love.
At the tender age of 21, she was diagnosed with an evil disease called Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare kind of bone cancer, just a couple of months after marrying the love of her life. This did not stop her from being the magical, happy fairy that she was. She hid the pain, the sorrows, the worries and the doubts behind her infectious smile and laughter. Even during the tough times, it was she who comforted her loved ones to keep the faith. Throughout her journey of cancer, she was always concerned about others and their discomfort.

After almost two years of stressful journey, ten rounds of traumatic chemotherapy, seven painful surgeries and her never-ending faith in good, we lost her on April 8th. She left this world with a smile on her beautiful, angelic face. She touched so many lives who will never be able to forget her and her charming personality.

I have too many things to write about her and I might never end, but today is the day to talk about her dream which was left unfulfilled.
Even in her last stages of life, she would never stop telling me about how much she loved kids. She talked to me about her dreams and aspirations.
She always wanted to be a social activist. She wanted to help people. She wanted to end the sufferings of few.
So this is what we thought could help her dream come true.

Click on this link to donate - http://gogetfunding.com/project/one-dream-at-a-time#/project_details

Yours Humanly is a global organization devoted to helping unprivileged and not-so-fortunate children around the world.

Anyone from around the world can donate. Your currency would be converted into Canadian dollars. You can donate as little as $1. All the funds collected would be forwarded to unprivileged children around the world through Yours Humanly.

If it is impossible for you to donate on this website, go outside your house and help at least one person in need. I am sure it would make Nidhee happy.
Most of us want to do something for people in need. We wait for the right time to do it, but we never know when our time runs out. There is never a right time. Each one of us is capable of giving at least something. If not money, give education, give food, give your services, help elders in need, give your old books to read, give pens and paper to write. The possibilities are endless.

Life is too short to wait for the right time.

Nidhee, you are gone, but will never be forgotten. Your memories, your values, your selflessness, and your goodness will live forever in our hearts.

Love you boo ♡