A nonprofit publication of the Kentucky Center for Public Service Journalism

Hair today, but tomorrow yours could be part of a cancer patient’s road to recovery


Staff report

Some enthusiastic hair stylists are volunteering their time for A Hair Donation Drive at Altar’d State in Crestview Hills as part of a Cancer Awareness Mission.

The partnership also includes Hairitage Salon in Florence and Pantene Beautiful Lengths.

The hair-raising event will happen on Friday, Jane 2 from 2-6 p.m. at Altar’d State in Crestview Town Center. Make an appointment by calling 859.426.9800. Walk-ins are welcome.

A donor ready for the big chop.

And the hair will be donated to organizations that make wigs for cancer victims.

“Both of my grandmothers had cancer,” says Megan Clare, a stylist, who is helping organize the event. “This drive will be a fun way to get a free new summer hairdo, donate to a good cause, shop for a new outfit to go with your new hair, and have a good time.

“It takes about 8-15 ponytails to make a full wig.”

Here are the basics:

– must be 8″ or more of hair;

– non-permanent dye (fade dye is fine);

– will be styled after the big chop;

– it only takes 8-15 ponytails to make a full wig;

“At Altar’d State, we focus in giving back to the community. We do a little something called Mission Mondays, where we donate 10% of our sales to local charities,” said Clare. “We do have specific themes for our charities – for the summer months, the theme is cancer. Currently, we are working with Compassion That Compels, an organization that thrives by creating and giving away Compassion bags to ladies battling cancer.”

Involved in these charitable efforts are Clare, Assistant Manager Michaela Kamer, Laura Garrison (Mission Monday Captain, Brand Representative) and Marcia Kennedy, a stylist with Hairitage in Burlington.

“Hair is something that will grow back, so we say it’s time to chop it off and give it a second life with someone who truly needs it!” says Clare. “We chose Pantene Beautiful Lengths simply because it is the smallest minimum, but we are more than likely going to reach out and donate to other organizations that best fits our donors’ hair.”

Pantene Beautiful Lengths says on its web site:

To us, it’s hair. To women battling cancer, it’s hope.

We know how important the appearance of strong, healthy hair is. For women battling cancer, the appearance of strong, healthy hair is even more important. That’s why we created Pantene Beautiful Lengths, the only program to help women feel like themselves again with free, real-hair wigs. So when you donate 8 inches of hair or $8 dollars to the cause, you’re helping to make sure that happens.
 
More than 800,000 ponytails donated to date

Our goal is simple. We want to make it possible for women everywhere to share their hair with women who’ve lost theirs. It’s also why we’ve partnered with the American Cancer Society® to make and distribute the wigs.

Thanks to our partnership, we’ve donated 42,000 real-hair wigs to the national American Cancer Society Wig Bank, helping serve those in need every single day…

Since Pantene Beautiful Lengths began in July 2006, we’ve received thousands of messages filled with hope and gratitude, and also those of love and of loss. The images and messages show women, children — and even men — with their ponytails in hand, ready to donate them in honor or memory of their loved ones.


Related Posts

Leave a Comment