UCH Social Worker Shaves Head to Support Cancer Patients

From 9News.com; written by Matt Flener

DENVER - At University of Colorado Hospital, social workers have a pool of money to help cancer patients pay their day-to-day bills.

So when one medical social worker, Joan Hart, set out to raise $5,000 for that fund recently, she actually beat her goal by raising $6,000.

But Hart did not stop with just raising money.

"I pledged that if I could raise $5,000 I would shave my head," Hart said.

[Watch the video on the 9News.com website] 

Saturday, on the patio at Beau Jo's Pizza in southeast Denver, Hart kept her promise, having a stylist shave three years worth of beautiful black hair from her head.

"Mostly I wanted to bring attention to cancer patients," she said. "I really think it takes cancer patients so much courage to face their illness."

"She's a social worker who walks her talk," Linda Woltkamp, a colon cancer survivor who came to support Hart's efforts, said. "She's gorgeous."

Hart's hair will go to the Pantene Beautiful Lengths program, which makes wigs for women fighting cancer.

UCH Contact: Dan Weaver at (720) 848-7852 or dan.weaver@ucdenver.edu