A 14-year-old Dubai student recently did exemplary work by donating her hair for the maximum number of times for cancer patients.
Aalia Rumana, a student of Dubai’s Indian High School, created a record by donating her hair four times, 12 inches each time, from July 2016 to June 2021, to cancer charities. These charities include Friends of Cancer patients and the Children’s Cancer Centre of Lebanon. Last week she was awarded by the India Books of Records last week.
Alia said that she has grown up seeing her parents serving the community by volunteering for various initiatives such as food distribution in labour camps, visiting the sick, helping some sick person get financial help for treatment. This encouraged her to do some good work for society.
It was her elder sister Ayesha Jumana, a college student, who donated hair for cancer patients. She donated her hair twice in 2016. She loved the idea of empowering women by this simple hair donation. She noticed that how a simple wig can give confidence, strength and hope to someone struggling with hair loss due to chemotherapy.
“I believe hair donation, though simple on one’s part, could really make a big difference to someone’s self esteem and support them during their cancer journey. Besides, as a young woman, hair donation is a beautiful gesture from one woman to another.”
Besides that Alia holds achievements in various fields. She is a black belt in karate, an ice skating winner at the GCC level. She is also a regular participant at the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) camps.
“I also do other social services, including delivering motivational talks in labour camps, speeches about the ill effects of smoking, drinking and more. My future aim is to work in the healthcare field and offer my service to others. Helping others elevates our hearts, minds, and spirits.”