Magician David Ben gets his curly locks shorn at the #NoHairSelfie kickoff at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. (Photo: The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation)
They came. They inspired. They shaved their heads.
#NoHairSelfie, The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation's global fundraising campaign, which kicked off Jan. 5, culminated in sensational fashion on World Cancer Day as participants shaved their heads, actually or virtually, in solidarity with patients undergoing cancer treatment.
The second-year event is well on its way to raising $1.5 million for cancer research at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, one of the top five cancer research centres in the world. Donations will continue to be accepted until March 31.
Several brave souls bared their scalps in the name of furthering cancer research at a morning event held in the seventh floor atrium of The Princess Margaret last Thursday.
Longtime UHN employee Daniel Burri was shaved by Dr. Peter Pisters, the President and CEO of UHN. The PMCF's President & CEO, Paul Alofs, had his head shaved by former Member of Parliament and one-time Toronto mayoral candidate, Olivia Chow.
Daniel Burri, a longtime employee of University Health Network, is enjoying the results of his #NoHairSelfie buzz, joined by celebrity barber Dr. Peter Pisters (President & CEO of UHN) as well as his stylist. (Photo: TPMCF)
Magician David Ben, who was top fundraiser with more than $200,000, went under the blade of philanthropist Gary Slaight. Business executive Don Tapscott had his hair buzzed by CTV personality Lisa Laflamme.
Grateful patient Amy Ng had her long locks shaved by stylist, Grace Tartaglia. And singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright made the first cuts to the mane of hair sported by his partner, Luminato's artistic director Jorn Weisbrodt.
At an evening event, the Buzz-Off and After Shave Party was hosted by Steam Whistle Brewery. There, several others, including Dr. Rama Khokha, TV personality Cabral (Cabbie) Richards, firefighters and PMCF employees, shaved their heads during a celebration honouring the strength of cancer patients.
World Cancer Day takes place every year on Feb. 4, and unites the world in the fight against cancer. Currently, 8.2 million people die from cancer worldwide every year.
In Canada, it is estimated that 196,900 received a cancer diagnosis last year, and approximately 78,000 died from the disease.
For more information about #NoHairSelfie or to donate to the cause, visit
www.nohairselfie.com.
While singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright snaps a souvenir photo, his husband, Luminato artistic director Jorn Weisbrodt, prepares to lose his long locks at the media conference that kicked off the 2016 #NoHairSelfie. Jorn later donated his cut hair to Wigs for Kids. (Photo: TPMCF)
