Andbank’s solidarity wig bank provides support to more than 30 people

Escaldes-Engordany, 27 February 2025

The solidarity wig bank promoted by Andbank has provided its services to more than 30 people during its two and a half years of operation. The aim of the project is to offer free wigs made from natural hair, along with personalised advice, to all women who are undergoing oncological treatment and end up losing their hair as a result.

The wig bank is managed by Nelly Garcia, who specialises in oncological aesthetics and hairdressing. She supports patients from the very start of the treatment process, and affirms that “the best option is to come before you start to lose your hair, as that way we can adapt the wig in line with your natural style. The hardest moment is when a person’s head needs to be shaved: normally I sit them facing away from the mirror in order to avoid the visual impact, and I tell them that after the treatment their scalp will require extra care, as chemotherapy makes it more sensitive and easily irritated.”

The bank was set up in September 2022 with five wigs and now has 18, thanks to the collaboration of Andbank, donations and various campaigns. The project arose from a conversation with nurse and photographer Chiqui Novis at the presentation of her book A veces la vida [Sometimes Life], which also led to the first donation to get the bank up and running.

According to Maria Suárez, the manager of domestic banking at Andbank, “our company has always been firmly committed to the fight against cancer and has supported a variety of actions and projects that contribute to this cause. It was time to do something in Andorra, which is why we are supporting the wig bank, a project that contributes a great deal to everyone who is going through this experience and is open to anyone who needs it.”

In the words of Rosa Campà, a user of the wig bank, “cancer treatment is a very complicated and difficult process; you don’t recognise yourself in the mirror, so having access to a wig made from natural hair is not only a great luxury, but also a tremendous form of support that otherwise would not be possible.” She went on to add that “all of a sudden, everything spirals out of your control, so we’re very lucky to have the support of Nelly and her team, as they make sure that your appearance is as similar as possible to your usual look, which helps to bring back your self-confidence a little.”

The solidarity bank is located in Andorra la Vella and provides its services free of charge. It is available to anyone who requests its services; all users need to do is book an appointment by calling 868 689.