Campaign Participants Chop Their Hair Off for Cancer Patients

Category: Lifestyle/Entertainment

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. pay tribute to (someone/something) / peɪ ˈtrɪb yut tu / (idiom) – to dedicate an event or activity to someone or something
    Example:

    A concert will be held to pay tribute to one of the country’s most popular artists.


  2. lock / lɒk / (n) – hair
    Example:

    She cut five inches from her long locks.


  3. go out of (one’s) way / goʊ aʊt ʌv weɪ / (idiom) – to make an effort to do something
    Example:

    The patient’s friends went out of their way to make her feel better by bringing her favorite food.


  4. uplift / ʌpˈlɪft / (v) – to inspire
    Example:

    The campaign wants to uplift people who suffer from illnesses.


  5. grow out / groʊ aʊt / (phrasal) – to let hair grow in a way that is different from its original style
    Example:

    After years of having short hair, I have decided to finally grow my hair out.


Article

Read the text below.

UK-based company Good Hair Day (ghd) has recently launched a charity campaign dedicated to young cancer patients.


In September, ghd, a well-known manufacturer of hair care tools, collaborated with charity Little Princess Trust to launch the campaign “Chop To Your Chin.” Started in 2006 to pay tribute to young cancer victim Hannah Tarplee, the charity aims to encourage children suffering from hair loss due to cancer treatments and other diseases by providing them with quality wigs made of authentic hair.


Campaign participants may donate their locks upon getting the free haircut offered by any of the participating salons across the United Kingdom and Ireland. Most hair types are accepted for donation, and participants are asked to donate at least seven inches of their hair.


The campaign, which is scheduled to run until October this year, earned praises from the public due to its high participation rate. Participants said that they are willing to go out of their way to donate their hair for a good cause.


This is not the first time that ghd has uplifted cancer patients. In 2016, ghd partnered with Breast Cancer Now, United Kingdom’s largest breast cancer research charity, and launched the Pink Blush Collection. For every product purchased from this collection, €10 will go to the research charity.


Meanwhile, a similar charity campaign was established in the United States in 2006. US-based hair care product manufacturer Pantene teamed up with the American Cancer Society to launch Pantene Beautiful Lengths, which aimed to encourage people to grow out, cut, and donate their hair to make wigs for cancer patients.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

• If given the opportunity, would you participate in the “Chop To Your Chin” campaign? Why or why not?
• If the “Chop To Your Chin” campaign came to your country, how could its organizers best promote it (e.g. social media, celebrity endorsement)?

Discussion B

• Name a charity campaign that you think made an impact in your country. Discuss.
• If you were to start a charity campaign, what would it be and who would be your beneficiaries?