Kenra Professional adopts The Rapunzel Project® as its company
charity and donates $50,000 to help cancer patients keep their hair
during chemotherapy via cold cap approach
Indianapolis—December 2010—Kenra Professional has adopted The
Rapunzel Project®, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping
cancer patients keep their hair during chemotherapy, as its company
charity and donated $50,000 to support the organization's efforts to
help cancer patients keep their hair during chemotherapy via a unique
cold cap approach. More than 1.5 million new cancer cases were
diagnosed in the United States in 2010. About 8% of women and men
decide not to have chemotherapy because they are afraid to lose their
hair. However, a new cold cap technology commonly used overseas has
been shown to prevent hair loss associated with chemotherapy. Kenra
Professional is supporting The Rapunzel Project's mission to inform
patients that they have an option.
"Keeping your hair while undergoing chemotherapy is not about vanity—
It's about identity," explains Nancy Marshall, co-founder of The
Rapunzel Project. "Knowing she can keep her hair can help liberate a
patient emotionally and physically from the 'cancer patient' label
and improve self-image, dignity and morale—vital, yet often
overlooked, elements of overall wellness. Cold caps are not a cure
for cancer, but they are an enormously powerful game changer for
patients. We are delighted to partner with Kenra Professional to
bring that important message to the professional beauty industry,
which is critical to spreading our story."
In fact, The Rapunzel Project is very personal to its founders,
Shirley Billigmeier and Nancy Marshall, because they are both breast
cancer survivors. When Shirley learned that she needed to undergo
chemotherapy to limit the chances of a cancer recurrence, she
immediately set out to purchase a wig—anticipating the loss of her
hair. In the process, she inadvertently heard about cold cap therapy.
She began to investigate, and ultimately connected with Frank Fronda,
the scientist who invented a cold cap that has been widely used in
Europe for 15 years.
Cold cap therapy involves the use of special caps, frozen to a very
cold temperature and worn before, during and after each chemotherapy
treatment. The cooling of the hair follicles prevents chemotherapy
toxins from reaching them, preserving the follicles and therefore
preserving the patient's hair.
When Shirley learned that it would be possible to rent the cold caps,
she approached her oncologist, who was extremely supportive. The
biggest obstacle was that the caps have to be used at -30° centigrade
(-22° F), a temperature that normal freezers do not reach. Nancy
recognized that this was a huge opportunity for Shirley and many
chemotherapy patients. She started fundraising to purchase a suitable
freezer. Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis allowed the
donations go to its Foundation, which purchased the freezer for the
hospital. Shirley wore the caps during her chemotherapy treatments
and did not lose her hair! She and Nancy decided that they needed to
make more cancer patients, their physicians and hair stylists aware
of this new technology. The Rapunzel Project was born.
"Cancer patients have a right to know they have an option," says Shirley.
"Kenra Professional supports The Rapunzel Project's goals to raise
awareness of the existence and efficacy of cold caps for preserving
hair during chemotherapy and to raise funds to purchase biomedical
freezers for oncology facilities," says Tim McMeekan, CEO of Kenra
Professional. "We are proud to donate $50,000 and committed to
raising an additional $250,000 for The Rapunzel Project on behalf of
the Kenra Professional company team, distributors, vendors, salons
and consumers. As a company and in conjunction with Shirley and
Nancy, we are setting audacious goals to eradicate hair loss for
chemotherapy patients by helping hospitals obtain the needed freezers
and support systems. We will be engaging our customers, distributors
and partners in the professional beauty industry to help spread The
Rapunzel Project's story and join in the support of this important
cause to help FIGHT cancer."
About The Rapunzel Project®: The Rapunzel Project® is a non-profit
organization dedicated to helping chemotherapy patients keep their
hair during treatment. To learn more, get involved or make a
donation, visit www.rapunzelproject.org.
Learn more here:
http://www.aolhealth.com/condition-center/breast-cancer/awareness-month/cold-cap-therapy-chemotherapy-womens-hair?icid=main
|main|dl6|sec1_lnk3|180663
Watch Shirley's story on Good Morning America:
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/OnCallPlus/cold-cap-therapy-women-chemotherapy-hair/story?id=11985624
About Kenra Professional: Kenra Professional products create inner
and outer beauty by giving women and men the trust and confidence to
achieve their ultimate style. Kenra offers two collections under the
Kenra® Classic and Kenra® Platinum brands—both available in top
salons across North America. The Kenra® Classic brand offers classic,
quality, hair care products that consistently deliver professional
hair care solutions, enabling salon clients to achieve desired
results that make them confident in their appearance. Kenra® Platinum
promises a premium, state-of-the art hair care experience that aligns
with salon clients' discerning tastes for high performance and style.
Visit www.kenra.com .
Media Contact: Jayne Morehouse [email protected]
Office: 440-846-6022/cell: 440-840-5044
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