Lending a helping hair

Brigitte Moland

 

Signs read "500 inches of hair." Many are wondering what is going on and why Marian is collecting hair.

 

In years past, diaper drives, clothing drives, and this semester a teddy bear drive have all been sponsored and run by the action committee of Ministry Council. This year they have decided on something out of the ordinary to help those in need.

 

The core group decided to involve the school in Locks of Love. "(Junior) Kara Stockdale came up with the idea and brought it to the core team's attention," said action committee moderator and religion teacher, Mr. Kory Delkamiller.  The group then decided to encourage girls to get their hair cut in the quad and donate it on April 2, 2004.

 

 The Locks of Love foundation helps children under the age of 18 who have hair loss due to a disease.  The program asks for a minimum of ten inches of hair from the participants to make wigs for those in need. Locks of Love has grown so large that multiple salons in nearly every state participate in the hair drive.  Most of the donors are under the age of 18 and those who receive the donated wigs are under the age of 18 as well.

 

Now Marian has jumped on the bandwagon to help those in need.  "This drive ties in with the action committees theme this year; we want to give back to our peers and younger children," said senior core member Melissa Maher.

 This April, Marian will try to donate 500 inches of hair, which is equivalent to 50 people in need.  "We're hoping that 50 students from Marian would be willing to cut their hair," said Maher.  However, after the sign-up ended on Oct. 6, only 45 girls actually committed to donating their hair meaning they could fall shy of their original goal.

 

The action committee is arranging for hair stylists to come to Marian on April 2 and give free hair cuts to all those who signed up to participate this fall.  All those who signed up need to be able to donate the minimum of ten inches by April and cannot have chemically damaged hair.

 

Freshman Breeanne Peterson has already cut 16 inches of her hair this past summer and plans to cut a total of 40 inches all together to help the Locks of Love drive Marian is sponsoring.  "I think it's a way to help other kids out.  I also think it is great because kids are so understanding of the situation and are willing to help out," said Peterson.

 

An estimated 80 percent of all the hair is donated by children, and most of it is sent to young girls to help cope with their hair loss.  "It's a true witness to me of self sacrifice. These girls are helping someone in need and give what they have naturally, even if it's not a convenience for them," said Delkamiller.