When a friend or loved one is diagnosed with cancer, it’s hard to watch them go through all the pain. When Herriott Hall learned that their friend was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, they wanted to help.

Thus, Cuts for Cancer was created. Cuts for Cancer will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. tonight on Pomerantz stage in Olmsted. It will feature students cutting their hair in support of their classmate, and all people with cancer.

When patients go through chemotherapy, a side effect is losing their hair. Students are going to cut off their hair to show support and to raise money and awareness.

While the students originally wanted to give the money raised to their classmate directly, it was later decided that he would choose the foundation to receive the money. He chose for the money to be donated to the national Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

This gives the hall a chance to not only support their friend, but also to raise everyone’s awareness about different types of cancer.

At last count, eight students were signed up to cut their hair, seven boys and one girl. Cups were placed in the Olmsted Breezeway all of last week for people to donate. The person with the most money will get their hair cut first.

Tonight, these students will take the stage and have their hair cut. Students and teachers at the local Aveda Institute volunteered their time and services to help this event.

Until tonight, the students’ cups will be in their dorm rooms, so you can still find them to donate. You can even sign up to participate right up until the haircuts.

First-year student Sam Meyers heard about the event and thought it would be a good opportunity to show his support.

“It’s a great cause. Why not?” Meyers said. “It seems like it will be fun.”

While Sam wasn’t sure if they were going to shave all his hair or give him a buzz cut, he didn’t even care.
“It will be interesting though, never done anything like this before,” Meyers said.

Getting your hair cut is not the only way to show your support and raise awareness. Anyone can attend the event and donate. You don’t have to donate to anyone’s cup; you can donate just to the cause. Donations are being taken up until the event and will continue to be collected at the event.

So far the response has been great. Herriott Hall plans for this to be a yearly event. If you still want to contribute after the event, and don’t want to wait until next year, there is information on the national Leukemia and Lymphoma Society website: www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/hm_lls.

Everyone should make sure to stop by Pomerantz stage tonight to support friends and classmates. It will be a great finals study break and a great way to show support and band together as a Drake community.

Photo: Connor McCourtney