I started ROgHA with a simple promise: provide people with a gentler, safer, effective way to care for their scalp and hair.
Long before I became a Certified Trichologist, I spent years behind the chair listening to clients share their stories — from the day- to- day life at home, at work with family and friends, to the conversations about a new medical diagnosis that would quickly change everything. Those conversations shaped my life’s work and, ultimately, led me to create an oncology education program that supports patients, with practical and compassionate guidance on scalp and hair wellness during chemotherapy and radiation. A program that patients can count on, when their day to day has changed completely.
CASTLE — Courage and Strength Through Life’s Endeavors — is the heart of my work’s mission. I created the CASTLE in 2006 after my dad passed away from lung cancer. From diagnosis onward, he approached every day with remarkable courage and strength. I wanted to keep that light alive by supporting patients and their families as they navigate their own diagnosis journeys.
Building the CASTLE
The first CASTLE fundraiser raffle took place in 2007, with proceeds donated to the hospital where my dad received care. The following year, we used raffle funds to purchase toys and games for children on the oncology floor — the same floor my nephew visited often before his passing in 2007.
Over the years, the CASTLE’s purpose has stayed steady: to honor the resilience we see in patients and caregivers, and to offer support when it’s needed most. That support includes information, resources, and a compassionate presence. It’s why I created “Hair and Scalp Wellness During Chemotherapy and Radiation” in 2017, an oncology education program designed to help patients understand what can happen to their scalp and hair, how to prepare, and which steps they can take throughout treatment.
The program began in Massachusetts and New Hampshire and continues to grow as we reach more people seeking reliable, reassuring information after hearing the words “you have cancer”.
The power of education
As a Trichologist, I’m often asked what patients can expect and how to plan for changes in scalp sensitivity, dryness, shedding, or regrowth. My answer begins with education. Knowing what might happen lessens fear. Knowing how to care for the scalp and hair can restore a sense of control and knowing you have a trusted resource can make each step feel a little more manageable.
At ROgHA®, our Dermatologist-tested, Trichologist-recommended formulas were created to deliver gentle, effective scalp and hair cleansing and re-balancing that everyone can benefit from. We purposefully omitted many of the common additives that can irritate the scalp including ingredients that are found to be carcinogenic. Everyone should avoid those ingredients! We focus on cleansing and re-balancing to support an optimal scalp environment and healthier-looking hair. For patients, a proper routine and gentle products can help reduce discomfort that's often experienced during treatment.
The CASTLE adds another layer to this support by understanding the courage it takes to keep showing up, and the strength it takes to keep choosing how you will conquer each day. One of the guiding thoughts behind the CASTLE is:
“Every day is filled with making choices, even though we don’t always get to choose what each day has in store for us, we do get to make the choice of how we approach it.”
— Courage and Strength Through Life’s Endeavors
The idea of embracing how you approach life’s challenges has carried my family and me through tough times, including caring for my mom following her diagnosis with a rare form of cancer - cholangiocarcinoma. Courage and Strength is the light we can share with others. Whether we’re funding small moments of joy for kids on the oncology floor, delivering patient education, or simply being present, the CASTLE is about making a difference together, keeping the light alive, while being a reminder that no one travels a cancer diagnosis alone.
Every act of support counts
If you’re reading this and would like to help build the CASTLE, you have options. You can make a gift in honor or in memory of someone you love. You can share this post about the CASTLE with a friend. You can also mention / share this post to help grow awareness about our patient education resources that we offer.
Every action, big or small, helps build the CASTLE.
To everyone who has donated, volunteered, or shared our mission, thank you. Your kindness reaches farther than you know. It brings comfort to families, it empowers patients with knowledge, and it keeps the legacy of courage and strength alive in hospital rooms, treatment centers, and homes across our community.
Help us continue our mission. If the CASTLE has touched your life, or if you want to make a difference in someone else's cancer journey, I invite you to support the cause. Together, we can build the CASTLE, keeping the light alive for every patient and family reminding them that no one travels a cancer diagnosis alone.
Join me in building the CASTLE
—Sharon Clohesy