After a stream of caustic and angry comments from people with cancer last month on social media, the cancer charity 'Be Bold, Be Bald!' has closed down, with its founder issuing an apology and pledging to be guided by "the community of patients, survivors and advocates in the future."
'Be Bold, Be Bald!' is an annual campaign in its 11th year that sells flesh-toned swim caps to individuals and groups to wear on October 21 in solidarity with people living with cancer.
"For ONE day, put on a bald cap and put vanity aside. Why? To fight cancer," says the group on its Twitter homepage.
Participants wear the bald cap and solicit sponsorships in order to raise money for the organization, which then donates funds to other cancer charities. Groups receiving donations included the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
"We've had tens of thousands of participants join from around the world, raising close to $1.5 million for 50+ cancer charities," the organization says on an explanatory webpage.
The campaign was started in 2010 by Jeff Freedman, a Boston advertising agency executive. He was inspired by the cancer death of his business partner and friend Mike Cowell, who lost his hair from chemotherapy.
