The organizer of a fundraising event that has helped raise millions of dollars for pediatric cancer research is now looking for a new charity to support, after the Stollery Children’s Health Centre and Make-A-Wish Foundation pulled out.

Back in 2003, Tammy MacDonald co-founded the Hair Massacure, when her youngest daughter Kail was diagnosed with leukemia at 2-years-old.

“I’m sad, our family worked so hard for fifteen years,” MacDonald said.

It all started as a Valentine’s Day Hair Massacre, turned into a massive fundraiser for pediatric cancer research, it raised up to $12 million over fifteen years.

“Not only kid-focused, we saw it hit every demographic,” MacDonald said. “We’ve seen participants as young as 9-months-old to people in their 80s.”

MacDonald said Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Stollery Children’s Health Centre told her two months ago that they would not renew their contracts.

CTV News reached out to both organizations for comment, each issued a statement.

“The primary reason for our decision not to renew our contract with Hair Massacure is our long-term commitment to priority research funding through the Women and Children’s Health Research Institute (WCHRI). This decision allows us to explore and provide other community fundraising opportunities throughout the year with continued investment in research excellence, including oncology, through WCHRI,” a Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation spokesperson said.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation issued the following statement, a spokesperson said the organization is “proud to have been part of the Hair Massacure event” and thanked the MacDonald family and anyone involved in the event.

“The Foundation’s contract with Hair Massacure has recently expired and we are not in a position to renew. We are thankful for the years of partnership and wish the MacDonald Family continued success in the future,” the statement continued.

MacDonald said she’s still stunned at the developments, even two months after she found out.

She told CTV News she hopes to find another cancer research charity that wants to get involved in bringing the event back – she said the event has been her only employment for the past 15 years.

With files from David Ewasuk