BY GIZEM OZTURK ’22, Netherlands
Twenty-four United World College-USA students are sporting less hair after participating in Bald For A Cause on April 11.
The students, of which 22 opted to go bald while the remaining two had their hair cut, donated 100 to 120 inches of hair to Locks of Love. The nonprofit provides custom-made hair prosthetics to children who have suffered hair loss as a result of medical conditions, such as burn trauma and cancer treatment. Students also raised $80 for the University of New Mexico Children’s Hospital.
Economics teacher and assistant residential coordinator Liam O’Hara was the only faculty member who chose to go bald.
First-year student organizers Gizem Ozturk, Netherlands, and Camila Vargas, Venezuela, were expecting 10 people to participate.
“The event started with the organizers going bald, which quickly led to many more people jumping in and deciding to go bald,” Camila said. “While only expecting 10 people to go bald, 22 people actually went bald, which gave us an amazing feeling.”
“The turnout was great,” she continued. “We didn’t expect so many people to shave their heads, so thank you for coming.”
Participants like Maria Gomberg ‘22, Mexico, said she went bald to feel more confident.
“I had just woken up from a nap, I looked at my roommate and was like ‘I am going bald’ and I went bald,” Maria said.
Organizers started planning in mid-March. After receiving approval, the girls started marketing the event.
“To make the event successful, we decided that we wanted to have a speaker with music, an audience, a microphone, students to shave their head, food and live music,” Camila said. “We wanted the event to be a place where students could come by, have fun, watch, listen to music, eat and support each other.”
First-years Alicia Barroso Rodrigo of Ireland, Angel Li of Hong Kong and Nina Lidar of USA-Calif. performed songs during the event, while students gathered to support each other.