Last Wednesday, Magen David Adom and Zichron Menachem conducted a “double donation day” throughout Israel. The public and MDA team members arrived to donate hair for cancer patients, blood, or both at MDA bloodmobiles. At the end of this special donation day, 144 hair braids were collected for natural high-quality wigs for cancer patients and 194 blood units.
The “double donation day” is a joint venture of Magen David Adom and Zichron Menachem, conducted in multiple locations across the country, including Ashdod, Beer Sheva, Jerusalem, Maghar, the Jordan Valley, Kiryat Motzkin, and Kiryat Ono.
The project was initiated by paramedic Yonat Daskal of the MDA Operations Division in charge of the Wish Ambulance project, who also donated hair, and noted: “This donation day ended with great excitement and with a remarkable outcome – 144 hair braids and 194 blood units donated all over the country.”
“We have met mothers that came with their daughters, men that donated, MDA employees that brought their family members – and the Israeli people, who, time after time, open their hearts, acting for the wellbeing of society,” Yonat said.
“I felt happy when they cut my hair – I knew that it’s a meaningful donation. The overall operation was so special and exciting; the deployment of MDA team members was overwhelming. I am grateful to the barbers that volunteered and arrived in order to cut the hair and to Zichtom – our partners, for a well-conducted operation,” she said.
Shlomit Oz, in charge of “hair activities” at Zichron Menachem, said: “At Zichron Menachem, we provide natural, professional hair wigs to cancer patients free of charge, thanks to hair braids donations provided in activities like the ‘double donation day.’ Together with MDA, we went out with this heartwarming, successful project. The response of the donors was amazing all over the country, we met generations of family members volunteering to assist cancer patients – we are extremely grateful. Big gratitude to the MDA family and Yonat, for carrying out a blessed – so successful initiative”.
MDA Director-General Eli Bin said: “We have met this day the human spirit of MDA people that makes it so unique and special in times of a common need and assisting fellow women and men. I thank Zichron Menachem, the many barbers for their response and work, and the numerous donors who gave a helping hand to patients.”