Donor Chops Off Dreadlocks to Raise Money for HCP

The Himalayan Cataract Project would like to introduce you to author, S. Bedford, a donor who took a need for a life change and turned it into life changing surgeries for the needlessly blind. Through her campaign, Bedford was able to raise a total of $2,503, which could potentially restore sight for up to 100 eyes. Thank you S. Bedford for your generosity and sharing your inspiration and motivation for the donation, read on for her story.

“After sporting dreadlocks for 15 years, I’d finally had enough of neck pain, itchy scalp, and smelling faintly of wet bath mat whenever I got caught in the rain. Originally, I’d intended to donate my locks to be crafted into wigs for those who’d lost their hair due to illness. Disappointed to find out that dreadlocks weren’t accepted by such foundations (evidently nobody else wants to smell like bathmat, either), I instead seized the opportunity to fundraise for a cause. After researching various charities, I selected the Himalayan Cataract Project because it seemed to be the most bang for my (and my donors’) buck. 

The capacity to restore an individual’s sight—to enable them to more deeply experience the world and see their loved ones’ smiles—for a paltry $25 is astounding. Furthermore, as a former NGO volunteer who’s witnessed first-hand the tragic effects of dishonorable financial management, I was impressed and heartened by The Himalayan Cataract Project’s transparency in this regard. On a personal level, I trekked through the Annapurna region of Nepal in 2010 and was awestruck and humbled by the nation’s staggering beauty. The Himalayan Cataract Project’s Kathmandu roots therefore struck an emotional chord on my heartstrings. I campaigned for two weeks, collecting contributions via Indiegogo and cash donations. The generosity of approximately 60 friends, family members, coworkers, clients and acquaintances resulted in 100 people receiving the gift of sight thanks to the Himalayan Cataract Project. And now nobody has to smell like wet bathmat.”

S. Bedford is the author of the travelogue/memoir, It’s Only the Himalayas and Other Tales of Miscalculation from an Overconfident Backpacker (Brindle & Glass, 2016) and a yoga instructor in Vancouver, British Columbia.