Thousands of South Africans will attempt to break an Australian Guinness World Record - and raise money to fight cancer - in a mass head-shaving event next month.
The Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) is running the nationwide awareness campaign and Shavathon 2004 to raise money for cancer awareness, research and community support centres.
The Shavathon will be held nationally on 2 and 3 April and will see an attempt being made on the Guinness Book of Records for the most heads shaved, or colour-sprayed, in 24 hours. The existing record is held by Australia, which shaved 55 000 people`s heads and raised A$8.5 million for the Leukaemia Foundation during a similar event last year.
South Africans can register for the event online at www.shavesa.co.za or by calling 0867 177 111 and will be able to take part at selected shopping centres around SA on 3 April. Once participants have paid the R50 donation fee, they can either have their heads shaved to a number one cut, or colour sprayed with a professional hairspray.
Campaign spokesperson Michelle Fagan says the head-shaving shows empathy for chemotherapy patients who lose their hair during treatment. She says the organisers hope to raise R8 million through the initiative. "Cancer affects one in four South Africans, and of this percentage, approximately half are diagnosed too late for any form of curative option."
Fagan points out that the event is open to the general public, as well as schools, corporates or clubs. "This is a great opportunity for groups to challenge one another, across one nation-building event. Participants can also align themselves with the campaign`s high-profile patrons, including Desmond Tutu, Joel Stransky, Mark Pilgrim, Galatia, Shado Twala, Fanie de Villiers, Edith Venter, Andrew McLean, Christina Storm, Cindy Nel, Heinz Winckler, David Kau and Yvonne Chaka Chaka."
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