By Joe Aura, aurajoe6@gmail.com
The 5th edition of the Wigs and Wings Drive took place on Friday, 24th October 2025, at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) helipad, in partnership with the hospital’s AID and Communications departments. The day-long event brought together oncology patients, stylists, volunteers, and partners for an uplifting celebration of hope, resilience, and healing.
The initiative featured grooming sessions — including haircuts, wig fittings, and make-up — alongside nutritional talks, entertainment, and team-building activities that restored dignity and reminded patients that healing extends far beyond medicine.
Behind the Smiles: Stigma, Survival, and Strength
Cancer in Kenya remains a growing public-health concern. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) 2022 data, Kenya recorded 44,726 new cancer cases and 29,317 deaths that year. Breast cancer accounts for about 25.5% of all cancers among women, making it the most commonly diagnosed. Yet, survival is often hindered by late diagnosis, limited infrastructure, and deeply rooted social stigma.
A pilot study on Kenyan women living with breast cancer found mean stigma scores of 39.8 — correlating strongly with anxiety, depression, and lower quality of life. Beyond the numbers are the painful stories. One survivor shared, “Kuna watu walihama kwa ploti wakisema nitawaambukiza cancer” (“Some people moved out of my compound saying I would infect them with cancer”). This kind of rejection turns a medical battle into a struggle for identity, acceptance, and belonging.
A Celebration of Courage
On 24 October, the KNH helipad came alive — with laughter, music, brightly colored wigs, and the hum of clippers and blow-dryers. Patients sat in styling chairs, smiling as volunteers worked their magic. Essential donations such as wigs, hair products, sanitary pads, adult and maternity diapers, dry food, and toiletries were distributed throughout the day.
I had the privilege of meeting two remarkable individuals: Rachel Kariuki, a poet and two-time cancer survivor who lost both breasts yet continues to shine through her art, and Robert Marine, a veteran cancer survivor since the 1990s and current chairperson of Champions of Hope Kenya. Both carry stories of pain and perseverance — and a shared conviction to turn their scars into symbols of hope.
Every Story is Unique, Every Journey Matters
Walking among patients in fresh wigs, chatting with stylists and volunteers, I felt hope in every small interaction. By mobilizing a compassionate network of stylists, volunteers, and supporters, the initiative aims to restore confidence and normalcy to patients whose journeys often extend far beyond hospital walls.
This year’s global campaigns — World Cancer Day’s theme “United by Unique” and Breast Cancer Awareness Month’s “Every Story is Unique, Every Journey Matters” — came alive in real time at the KNH helipad.
In a world where illness can strip away one’s sense of self, events like Wigs and Wings remind us that healing begins when we choose to see — and celebrate — the whole person.