“Catherine’s Pretty Ponytails 2- Big sis takes over!” surpassed what I thought was possible by a long shot. Between the hair donation/fundraiser and the Boston Pizza event Kimberly and her teams’ efforts yielded $15, 988 for the Canadian Cancer Society and gathered 63 ponytails for wigs for cancer patients. The young girls/women/men and young boy who participated by donating their hair and collecting pledges were absolutely outstanding!  They heard of this campaign, joined and ran with it. They managed to rank #2 in all of Ontario for on-line team fundraisers!  How shocking and impressive is that?! ? The youngest hair donor was 4 years old…just goes to show that anyone can do this, no matter your age or gender! You can make a difference and it feels so good!

Between the 2 campaigns, (the original led by Catherine and this years led by big sis and in a matter of only one year from June 22nd, 2008 to June 22, 2009) there is a total of 110 ponytails for wigs and $21,546 for the Cancer Society! Who knew this idea/campaign would have reached such proportions! It hit a chord with so many! Most of the hair donors/families are going through what we are and donating hair makes you feel that you are doing something and it helps to alleviate the feeling  that you can’t help your family member or friend who has cancer. It is empowering and it makes you realize  that you are not alone.

Although Catherine started this with the simple words “mom, I want to donate my hair for cancer patients” she certainly did not do this on her own! There are so many people to thank! We want to thank Regal Hair Design and Boston Pizza Orleans for hosting our events. You are terrific and we couldn’t have done this without you! I bet the hair donors are glad too that I wasn’t cutting their hair! We want to thank the companies who provided the campaign with services or product like The East Orleans Star local paper for the advertising, Sure Print and Graphics for the flyers and printed material, Loeb Cumberland Market who provided all the food and food supplies, the girls school for supplying the tables, chairs, canopies and portable stage. LynneArt facepainting for turning all the hair donors into walking works of art, caricatures and clowns for entertaining the crowd, Micpo who is multi-talented and enjoyed by young and old, our local TV anchor Max for all the support and promo, also all the companies who provided silent auction prizes and our friends and family and community who have been so terrific and supportive. We really appreciate it! It means so much to our family! We feel very blessed to have so many amazing people in our life!

Catherine’s Pretty Ponytails 2 will be in the local paper (Orleans Star) tomorrow and in the Saturday May 23rd issue of The Ottawa Citizen. The more people know about this initiative the better. There are many young people out there looking for ways to help others and this is a great way of doing just that! Anyone can do it! Our youngest hair donor this year is only 4 years old!

There are a few last minute things to be done and we are ready!!!! Kimberly is looking forward to the hair donation fundraiser event and her new hairstyle. We are now up to 43 hair donations and well over $6000 for the Canadian Cancer Society. I can’t believe what these young girls/adults are accomplishing! It is incredible! They heard of this idea joined in and are running with it….I can’t explain how amazing being involved in this feels! Can’t wait to meet all of them!

We have 19 hair donors so far and have raised over $2500!!! We are very excited about Kimberly’s progress and think that it is a great start and are hoping this trememdous momemtum continues. We are really looking forward to the big day. Please continue to support Kimberly and her efforts to help those with cancer. Thank you so much!!!

Kimberly has always had a generous heart and she always helps me out. I wish she could have done it last year with me but her hair wasn’t long enough…I’m glad she’s doing it this year! I was so surprised that we got 47 hair donations and  raised $5558.12 for the Canadian Cancer Society! and Kimberly is going to add to it! Thanks sis!

I am so excited! My hair is getting in my way and I can’t wait to cut it! I had wanted to donate my hair last year but it wasn’t long enough. I prefer to have short hair but I kept growing it so I could donate it. Will you join me?

Hi everyone,
I just wanted to let you know that Pretty Ponytails has a group on Facebook. You can sign up to get updates and chat with other people who will be attending and donating their hair or just giving their support.
We have over 100 members already! How cool is that?!!!
Join us today – just log into Facebook and search for “Catherine’s Pretty Ponytails” Thanks!
Bye!

Last year, my little sister Catherine did something pretty special: she cut off her hair. I know, you’re thinking “what’s so special about that?” Well, she did it as part of a hair donation and fundraising campaign for the Canadian Cancer Society, and she collected 47 ponytails and raised over $5000!!!

Last year I wanted to donate my hair but it wasn’t long enough, so this year, I’m taking over! I’m going to cut my hair  I would like to beat her total–I mean help her get more ponytails and raise even more money for a good cause. The ponytails will go to make wigs for those who have lost their hair because of cancer treatments, and the money will help fund the search for a cure.

Bye!