The driving force behind Scotland’s first wig bank for cancer sufferers has died after losing her own battle with the disease.
Agnes Lennox, who was 54, set up Wig Bank to gather and distribute hairpieces after her own experience with losing her hair. She donated half of the proceeds of her efforts to Maggie’s Centre.
Her sister, Elizabeth Cameron, paid tribute to her determination to help others.
”She contracted breast cancer in 2003 for the first time and her experience of getting a wig after she lost her hair was traumatic,” said Elizabeth. ”She found it expensive and emotional and she was treated with very little sensitivity.
”She decided to start a wig bank as somewhere for people who have bought or got a wig and no longer use it to donate to.
”She would wash and re-style them and then sell them on at an affordable price and half the money would go to the administration of the charity and half to Maggie’s.
”She was the founder and ran the first one in Edinburgh and now there are wig banks all over the country.”
She continued: ”She had literally thousands of wigs in her home where she ran the charity and we will get it opened up again as soon as possible. That will be her legacy.”
Andrew Anderson, of Maggie’s Edinburgh, said: ”The Maggie’s Edinburgh team are deeply saddened to hear that Agnes has passed away.
”Agnes was creative and generous individual which led to her setting up the wig bank to support others dealing with hair loss from treatment.
”She also graciously donated much of the proceeds of the sale of such wigs to Maggie’s, helping us to support many more people going through cancer.
”Agnes’s generous spirit will be greatly missed and our thoughts are with her family and friends during this time.”
Agnes was born in Glasgow but was brought up on Mount Stewart farm, Forgandenny, and attended Kilgraston School. She worked across the globe as a PA in a multi-national company before setting up her charity.
She was also a familiar face in Highland Perthshire, helping out at Elizabeth’s business, the Birnam Hotel.
She said: ”Agnes contributed financially and a lot of time to the renovation of the hotel and looked after the website. Despite being ill, she spent as much time as possible at reception and looking after the guests.
”She was very kind and generous, with a huge personality, and everybody loved her.”
Agnes’s funeral will take place at Forgandenny Church on November 21. Donations can be given in her memory to Maggie’s Centre, Edinburgh.
She is survived by Elizabeth, her mother Helen, brother, Jim, nieces, Claire and John and bother-in-law, Ian.