MAN-ICURE: A Stephen Lewis Secondary student gets the spa treatment during the ManiCure event to raise money for Canadian Cancer Society. (Courtesy YDSB)
Vaughan students nailed it right on the money with manicures and massages to raise funds for the Canadian Cancer Society.
The
Jan. 13 ManiCure for Cancer event was the brainchild of cancer survivor
Melanie Tinianov, an esthetician and owner of Wellness Esthetic
Studios. During her own battle with cancer, the mother of two started
ManiCure, a charity that brings attention to the cancer-causing agents
found in common beauty products.
“The idea came about one day
after my chemotherapy treatments. I got a manicure and was treated
horribly,” said Tinianov, who was diagnosed in August 2008. “I decided
right there that when I recover I’m going to focus my practice on
helping those who’ve been touched by cancer.”
Tinianov said it was
after speaking to a cosmetology teacher during a parent-teacher meeting
for her daughters that she decided how she was going to get the event
started.
“At first, the idea was I’d come in and provide services
for all of the teachers, then we decided to bring the students in and
make it part of the curriculum,” Tinianov said. “Then I was asked to
speak at Professional Development Day with all of the cosmetology
teachers in York Region.”
The charity event blossomed to involve six
schools across York Region and was sponsored by Suncoat Products, which
has introduced an all-natural cosmetic line.
Paolo Burzese,
principal of Maple High School, said ManiCure for Cancer was a positive
event that helped students gain “real world experience.”
“The
highlight was really seeing how proud the students were and how
seriously they took to giving their teachers manicures,” said Burzese.
“It was a far greater success than we thought it would be, there was a
lot of excitement and we spread a lot of awareness.”
Over $240 was raised at Maple High.
Rosie
Macor, a cosmetology teacher who organized the event at the school,
said she was really proud of the students who participated. She was
inspired to get involved after meeting with Tinianov, she said.
“When
all the hairstyling teachers got together to meet Melanie she
introduced this idea to put together the ManiCure for Cancer,” Macor
said. “Afterwards we were all touched by her story.”
Cosmetology
teacher Maria Mitchell helped coordinate ManiCure for Cancer at Stephen
Lewis Secondary School. She said along with raising money for cancer
research, the students are now aware of alternative options when buying
cosmetics.
“(Tinianov) wanted to do something for the community
so we all helped out,” Mitchell said. “Not only did we raise $200 for
cancer research, we learned about the harmful chemicals found in some
products, now they have choices.”
Tinianov said that her goal was to
create awareness. She was grateful for all of the support from the
teachers and students alike, she said.
“I directed students to
websites where they can find the ingredients to products they decide to
use so they become more aware, letting them make their own decisions
from there,” Tinianov said. “This is extremely important to me now and
is a part of who I am.”
