MANILA, Philippines - Heartbreaking reports have it that the number of Filipino children diagnosed with cancer is rising by 30 percent annually. According to the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC), there are over 500 kids being treated for cancer at PCMC alone and this figure is still rising — making it the fastest growing population in the hospital. While the cure for cancer is yet to be discovered, Matrix Philippines aids in bringing normalcy to these kids’ lives through the launch last year of the first ever Matrix 8-Inch Cut for Cancer Challenge, an initiative under its worldwide program called “Matrix Chairs of Change,” which allows salon communities and stylists to make a difference through their craft.
With the goal of uplifting more lives of Filipino children braving the battle against cancer by donating medical hair wigs, trusted American professional brand, Matrix, in its second year takes on the challenge to gather hairdressers and Filipino women nationwide to make a difference by sharing their talent and their hair. The campaign is in partnership with David’s Salon, which has pledged 80 hairdressers to share their talents for the cause, and with Kythe Ateneo, which will serve as the beneficiary.
“On this one-day-only event, in celebration of Child Cancer Awareness Month this month, our goal is to bring together Filipinas to donate at least eight inches of their hair that will then be turned into wigs to be donated to kids undergoing cancer treatment,” shared Inah Ramos, senior product manager of Matrix Philippines. “As we encourage our stylists to make a difference through their craft, we would like to share the mission of Matrix with everyone to be able to touch and change the lives of more Filipino children fighting cancer.”
Until Sept. 18, Filipino women are invited to register to be part of the movement by signing up at www.MatrixCutfForCancer.com. Then on Sept. 19, all registered volunteers can head to the 2nd Level Mega Atrium of SM Megamall to have eight inches of their hair cut and be transformed into children’s wigs.
For the second run of the Matrix 8-Inch Cut for Cancer campaign, last year’s ambassador and among the first who took the challenge, Maxene Magalona, passes on this igniting act this time to her sister, Saab Magalona-Bacarro. With cancer awareness as an advocacy that is very close to their hearts, both ambassadors share the same goal of inspiring and encouraging more Filipinos to make a difference in the lives of kids battling cancer.