Two Cloverdale sisters are earning widespread admiration in Surrey after donating their hair for the third time to support children and teens living with medical hair loss.
Eliza (12) and Amelia (10) Vanderark recently visited Michaud’s Hair Salon in Cloverdale, where stylists cut their long ponytails for Wigs for Kids BC, a program that provides custom human-hair wigs for young patients facing cancer and other serious illnesses. The salon donated its services for the charitable cause.
A Growing Tradition of Giving
The girls’ tradition began in 2019, when Eliza was just five and Amelia three. After watching a YouTube video of young donors, they asked their parents if they could help kids who had lost their hair during treatment.
Since then, the sisters have grown out their hair again and again. This year, Amelia donated 13 inches and Eliza 15 inches, bringing their total to more than 70 inches of hair contributed over three donation rounds — enough to help create several wigs for children in need.
Alongside the hair donation, the family also organized fundraising in support of BC Children’s Hospital, raising over $2,000 through their online campaign.
Amelia and Eliza are pictured in a before-and-after photo from their latest haircut, smiling in matching butterfly shirts as their long hair is transformed into short, fresh cuts for charity.
Why Wigs for Kids BC Matters
Wigs for Kids BC helps families cover the high cost of custom-fitted wigs, which can range from $1,000 to $3,000 and are not covered by MSP. Each wig can require hair from up to a dozen ponytails, making dedicated donors like the Vanderark sisters crucial to the program’s work.
“Donating my hair makes me happy, the kids in need of wigs happy, and overall doesn’t waste anything,” Eliza said, reflecting on why she keeps growing her hair out. Amelia adds that she wants children going through treatment “to feel more confident if they need it,” noting that they are already dealing with so much.
Family Values and Community Support
Their mother, Shana Vanderark, says the recurring donations have sparked ongoing conversations in their home about empathy, generosity and noticing the struggles others are facing. What began as a simple idea has grown into a family tradition and a local example of youth-led philanthropy.
The Cloverdale community has rallied behind the sisters, supporting their fundraising efforts and sharing their story, which now reaches well beyond Surrey.
How Readers Can Help
Those who would like to support the Vanderark sisters’ campaign or contribute directly to the cause can donate through their official BC Children’s Hospital Foundation fundraising page:
https://fundraise.bcchf.ca/fundraisers/shanavanderark/vanderark—-wigs-for-kids
With more than 70 inches of hair donated and thousands of dollars raised, Eliza and Amelia’s efforts highlight how small, repeated acts of generosity can make a tangible difference for children and families facing the challenges of serious illness — in Cloverdale, across Surrey and throughout British Columbia.
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