Bridlewood woman beats goal and goes bald.
Bahareh Tabrizi, centre, with father Asghar Tabrizi, left, and husband Frank Bolduc, all shaved their heads on Nov. 10 to raise funds for cancer research. Tabrizi came up with the idea to honour her mother, Rafat, who died after a battle with brain cancer.
Panteha Shafaie
A Bridlewood woman who offered to shave her head to raise funds for cancer research has lopped off her locks after surpassing her goal.
Bahareh Tabrizi held a shaving party at her home on Nov. 10 to celebrate raising more than $6,700 for the Canadian Cancer Society, beating her original goal of $5,000.
“I did it!” wrote Tabrizi in an email. “I'm officially bald. Saturday night was the event and it was so great.”
Her husband, Frank Bolduc, and father Asghar Tabrizi, as well as a few other volunteers, all went bald for the cause.
“My husband and father and a couple of others also shaved their heads to raise even more money,” she said, adding around 40 people turned out to celebrate and support the fundraiser. “I'm so proud of my friends, family and colleagues.”
The 34-year-old is number six on the Canadian Cancer Society’s individual fundraiser list.
Although the weather is getting colder, Tabrizi said she doesn’t mind being bald.
“Being bald is so liberating,” she said. “And I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy the five minute showers. Although, it is definitely a lot colder outside now; (I’m) glad I have some cute toques.”
Tabrizi wanted to do something more to raise funds for cancer research after she lost her mother, Rafat, to brain cancer 11 years ago. Diagnosed on Nov. 10, 2000, Rafat succumbed to the illness after 18 months.
“I’ve always done various fundraisers to raise money for cancer, but it’s been a matter of a couple of hundred dollars for this run, another couple of hundred for this walk. I’ve always wanted to do more,” said Tabrizi in a previous interview. “So I thought, ‘Well, what do I have lots to give?’ Not money. Not really too much time…Well, I have lots of hair; lots and lots of thick hair.”
She said she’d be donating her locks to the Continental Hair’s Hair for Kids Program in Toronto, which makes wigs for children undergoing cancer treatment.