When people are going through the physical and emotional stresses of treatment for cancer, the last thing they need is to add financial strain to their loads, says Samantha Hann.

The first-year kinesiology student hopes she has lightened some loads after a $2,000 donation to the Windsor and Essex County Cancer Centre Foundation’s patient assistance fund. The fund helps patients and their families by providing monies for everything from purchasing groceries, to paying utility bills, or covering travel or medications not insured.

“I know some of the costs that can arise,” says Hann, whose father recently received treatment in London for cancer that had been in remission for 14 years.

She had resolved in June 2011 to grow her thick brown hair and donate it to the Wigs for Kids program, which provides hair replacement solutions for children affected by chemotherapy and other medical conditions. Hann’s mother suggested she might also use the occasion to solicit pledges in support.

“We just talked to family, friends and some co-workers,” says Hann. “To raise $2,000—it was quite a bit more than we had expected.”

She presented a cheque along with her 12-inch ponytail to the Windsor Regional Cancer Centre on September 28. It was not her first foray into charity fundraising work. A Type 1 diabetic, Hann has helped to raise $15,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.