Alternative hair show donates £100,000 to childhood cancer research project
Money raised by the world famous Alternative Hair Show is being used to fund a groundbreaking research project looking into the causes of childhood leukaemia.
Tony Rizzo, who founded Sanrizz salons, launched the Alternative Hair Show in 1983 following the death of his three-year-old son, Valentino, to leukaemia. The annual show, which raises money for research into childhood leukaemia, has become the world's most prestigious hairdressing event, showcasing leading hairdressing teams from across the globe.
The Alternative Hair Charitable Foundation has announced that it will extend its funding for scientists investigating how leukaemia develops in infants shortly after birth. It is hoped that this research project at the University of Oxford will provide the crucial information that will lead to more effective treatments for these young children.
Last year the Alternative Hair Charitable Foundation donated £65,000 to the project, which is managed by the blood cancer charity Bloodwise, formerly known as Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research. The Foundation has announced that it will also give an additional £35,000, bringing its total funding for the research to £100,000.
Tony Rizzo, founder of Alternative Hair, said: “We are thrilled to make a further grant to this crucial area of research, and that it is all going forward under the auspices of Bloodwise (formerly Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research), a world leader in its field.”
Cathy Gilman, Chief Executive of Bloodwise, said: “As well as consistently being a showcase for some of the most exciting hairdressing talent in the world, the Alternative Hair Show has made a huge difference the lives of children with blood cancers over the years. This latest grant is incredibly generous and will allow us to carry out the research desperately needed to find new treatments for children with leukaemia. A huge thank you everyone involved in the show - the money raised is helping to save lives.”
The Alternative Hair Show, now in its 34th year, will once again be held at the Royal Albert Hall on 16 October 2016.
Find out more and book your tickets to the Alternative Hair Show.
See more in our latest news section.
