KOCHI: A degenerative ailment could not dissuade her from doing her bit in bringing smiles on the faces of cancer survivors.
Padmapriya P Menon of Tripunithura, who is suffering from cerebral palsy and kyphosis associated with it, has been donating her hair for cancer patients since 2015, when she was studying at St Teresa’s College, Ernakulam.
Now, she is all set to donate her locks of hair to Cancerve, a society with cancer survivors as members, on Thursday.
“When I got the opportunity to donate my hair in 2015, I discussed it with my father, who wholeheartedly supported me. I love to donate my long hair for making wig for cancer survivors, as long as possible. When I first donated the locks, it was around 32 inches long,” says the 27-year-old, who has difficulty in speaking.
Since then she has been donating locks of hair every two years when it grows to 18 inches. She has the complete support of her relatives.
Canserve treasurer Ambika Chandranpillai says Padma is the only differently-abled individual donating locks to the society regularly.
“Padmapriya was the first to come forward to donate hair when we started the Locks for Help campaign at St Teresa’s College in 2015. She is very passionate to donate her locks. Though we donate hair for cancer survivors, we do not encourage using wig. Our aim is to encourage cancer patients face the disease without fear,” says Ambika.
Daughter of Jancy and late Padmakumar P Menon, Padmapriya wishes to continue her studies. “I am getting many job offers. I love to work. But my mother does not allow me to go to work,” says Padmapriya, who has competed her postgraduation in history.
