Locks of Love
By MANDY BOURGEOIS, Chronicle staff writer
Ellis County Chronicle
Posted: Wednesday, December 20, 2006 10:31 AM CST
Three girls experienced a range of emotions — nervousness, fear, relief, happiness and pride — on Thursday evening at Snipper’s Hairstyles in Red Oak,
As Red Oak Intermediate fifth graders Haley Johnston, Ellen Stanfill and Calle Coleman laughed and smiled nervously, their mothers measured 10 inches of each girl’s ponytail, which in a few moments would be cut off and donated to Locks of Love.
“I had breast cancer - that’s why she’s doing it,” said Stephanie Johnston of her daughter Haley. “It was the worst thing as a girl not to have hair.”
The Locks of Love organization is a non-profit organization that collects donated hair, which is then used to make hairpieces for financially disadvantaged children under 18. According to the Locks of Love Web site, www.locksoflove.org, “most of the children helped by Locks of Love have lost their hair due to a medical condition called alopecia, which has no known cause or cure. The prostheses we provide help to restore their self-esteem and their confidence, enabling them to face the world and their peers.”
“There’s a lot of kids out there who don’t have hair,” Calle said.
“My mom had cancer,” Haley said. “I thought about not having hair as a child.”
The three girls started growing their hair out for this purpose in the spring.
“I kind of started growing it out and then I got the idea,” Ellen said. “We asked (Haley and Calle) if they would want to do it and they said yes.”
“It’s a really good reason to do it. It’s for a good cause,” Ellen said.
Before the girls were free of their 10 inches, they excitedly looked through hair magazines at Snipper’s Hairstyles, while hair stylist Myndee Woiton discussed stylish, shorter haircuts with the girls and mothers.
“I think it’s good for kids to be giving — to learn to give at a young age,” said Karen Stanfill, Ellen’s mother. “I think at first they weren’t sure about it, then they got excited about what they were doing and the short hair.”
“Yes,” Calle said when asked if she was nervous about cutting her hair as she eyed her short hair in the mirror. “There’s no question about it. But now I’m relieved.”
“I was nervous, but I know it will go to a good cause,” Haley said.
“I thought it was a giving gesture,” said Laura Coleman, Calle’s mom. “I like her hair long, but I was touched that she was going to give her hair to such a good cause.”
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