Breast Cancer Survivor Offers Free Haircuts

“I was feeling so weak and sick, I was unable to work, I could only imagine those in treatment who have bills to pay.”

When Lisette “Liz” Hernandez received a breast cancer diagnosis at 37 years old, her fight quickly extended beyond her health to include her financial stability.
It was during her treatment at St. Vincent Medical Center that a nurse named Brandy told her about the Swim Across the Sound patient assistance program, which provides financial aid to cancer patients. The help is a lifeline for cancer patients. For Liz, it sparked a deep desire to help others and pay it forward.

Liz, a professional hairdresser, knows the profound struggles of a breast cancer diagnosis all too well. With both her mother and grandmother having battled the disease—a fight her grandmother tragically lost after a second diagnosis—Liz felt compelled to act. "I wanted to do something; I wanted to help. I wanted to give back," she said.
Her idea was simple yet powerful: "I thought I could cut hair as a fundraiser and donate to the Swim Across the Sound." This October, Liz is doing something special—she’s offering free haircuts to anyone who donates to the Swim Across the Sound fundraiser.

You can catch her at VIP Barbershop, 464 Huntington Turnpike in Bridgeport, Tuesday through Saturday. She will not be taking a paycheck for herself. "I am not getting paid at all this month at the barbershop," she stated emphatically. "Why? Because I have chosen to help and give back to those with a cancer diagnosis. All proceeds while in my chair will be donated! Yes, donated!"
To donate to Liz click here: https://charity.pledgeit.org/L...

To read more about Liz's journey click here: https://giving.stvincents.org/.../Swim-Talk-October-2025...