Young researchers lose their hair to support kids with cancer

Three young scientists researching childhood leukaemia put their dedication to the test when cancer patients with scissors were let loose on their lovely long hair.

PhD students Ella Erickson, Lynda Truong and Jin Luo donated their long locks to “Wigs4Kids” to help provide wigs and essential financial assistance to families in need, ensuring that every child facing cancer receives the care and support they deserve.

Doing the cutting were Claire Josefsson, a leukaemia survivor-turned-researcher, and Novalie Morris, an amazing 12-year-old girl who is currently battling her 4^th leukaemia relapse.

It all took place at Hudson Institute of Medical Research, overseen by Dr Catherine Carmichael, Head of the Leukaemia Modelling and Therapeutic Discovery Research Group, who commented: “Children undergoing cancer treatment have to endure so much, and losing their hair is just adding insult to injury – being a visible reminder of what they are going through. Wigs4Kids is an amazing program run by the Kids with Cancer Foundation that provides bespoke human hair wigs for children with cancer. Helping sick children regain their confidence to go out and just “be kids” – maybe even forgetting for a time that they even have cancer – is a wonderful thing that this program can help provide.”

Chief organiser, Ella added: “It is a chance to give children going through treatment the feeling of being themselves again. To me, it’s just hair, but I know a wig can feel like getting back a piece of normal life. Wigs4Kids not only funds the creation of bespoke wigs, they also fund necessary research and support families facing the financial burden of childhood cancer.”

Discover more about Hudson Institute’s blood cancer research.

Support Ella Erickson – Carmichael Lab Wigs4Kids | Kids with Cancer