Valentine’s Day drive aids cancer patients
Published: February 14, 2005
Stylists work with Locks of Love to give children hair.
The ponytail came off in memory of Grandpa.
“He had leukemia and lost his hair,” said Jordan Arp, 11.
With eyes watering, Arp donated her blond hair Saturday to Locks of Love to honor her grandfather, Carl Frederick, who died two years ago.
Locks of Love provides custom hairpieces for free or at reduced cost to children who have long-term hair loss because of chemotherapy or other conditions.
After Frederick died, Arp’s 13-year-old sister, Allie, decided to donate her hair, and Jordan decided to follow in her footsteps and help another child who needs hair.
“I hope they’re happy, because I can’t really imagine not having the hair,” Jordan said.
Jordan’s mother, Dana Arp, drove Jordan from their country home near West Liberty to G-Spot Hair Design in Iowa City, where stylists worked all day in the store’s second annual Valentine’s Day drive to get donations for Locks of Love.
Arp said she liked her daughters helping a good cause.
“I don’t know if they would have done it or not if their grandfather had not passed away,” Arp said. “They’d heard of it before. They just decided to do it to honor their grandfather.”
Krista Goldsberry, owner of the G-Spot, said she expected to receive about 20 donations of 10 inches of hair.
The salon offers a free styling session with a Locks of Love donation year-round, not just during the drive.
Last year, about 85 donors snipped their ponytails for the cause — $2,500 worth of haircuts.
“We decided it was a great way to give back to the community, and we use it as part of our training program,” Goldsberry said.
Last year, an 87-year old woman donated a ponytail she had cut off when she was 24 and had saved, Goldsberry said.
According to the Locks of Love Web site, it takes six to 10 ponytails to make one custom headpiece, which is worth about $3,000.
Goldsberry said the hair is custom-made to the child and allows physical activity, even swimming.
Sophie Neems, 10, said she couldn’t wait to have her long hair cut. She usually keeps it shoulder-length and was tired of brushing and washing all the hair.
“I’m cutting it anyway,” she said. “So I might as well wait a little longer and do it for someone who needs it.”
Niki Neems said she was proud of her daughter and her patience in growing it. Neems said Sophie also had received $110 in pledges for the organization.
“It’s very in her nature,” Niki said. “She’s a very kind and altruistic child.”
Luis A. Sierra, an education associate at Horace Mann Elementary school, which Sophie attends, donated a graying ponytail to the cause.
He had kept it long for a theater role but didn’t get the part and decided to donate it.
“I think it’s awesome,” Sierra said. “I think more older people should donate, too.”
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