Losing her husband Bob in 2013 left Gundula Coad downcast.
Bob had been diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a rare type of blood cancer, and while undergoing chemotherapy he died from respiratory failure.
Since then, the Town and Country Vet cleaner has kept her hair long, apart from the occasional trim.
But last Friday she had her thigh‑length hair cut short in a symbolic step toward breaking free from her grief.
Tangled Pet Grooming owner Kathy Powell, who is based at the vet in Richmond, was all too happy to trade pooches for people to assist in the lock chop, although she says human hair is “so much harder” to cut.
Gundula chose to donate the bundles to Freedom Wigs, matched with a fundraiser for the Nelson Tasman Cancer Society to support others facing cancer, even though the organisation was not involved in Bob’s journey.
“It took me a long time to find my way out of a deep hole of depression and grief that I fell into the first six years,” she reflects.
“It took me another six years before I actually felt comfortable in my life as it is now… I didn’t really care for whether I had long hair, but as the years wore on, it was more and more a statement of how long my husband had been dead.
“I felt that now I want to make a statement that I’m ready to move on… so that’s when I decided, the hair comes off… and I’m happy to raise funds for the Cancer Society as well, I know several people talk highly of them.”
Gundula was brought to tears as Kathy passed her each bundle of hair from her head.
But she insisted the were “happy tears”.
The $3033 she hopes to raise from the cut reflects her Buddhist faith, with the number three symbolising divine protection.
“Multiples of three are more lucky.”
She had already reached $900 before the clippers were switched on.
Donations can be made at www.youcanforcancer.org.nz/13yearsofhair
