Locks of Love offers lots of love
Published: May 9, 2005
Beauty salons have a long history of sisterhood, providing a place to gather, get beautiful, catch up on the latest gossip and bond together in friendship.
Christina’s Salon is no different.
In fact, owner Christina Fondren has taken her community of women to a new level. Fondren supports Locks of Love, a program that collects human hair to make wigs for children who are undergoing chemotherapy treatments that cause hair loss and children who have been diagnosed with alopecia areata, a medical condition with no cause or cure that causes balding.
“This is our second year to host a hair-a-thon,” said Fondren, a Columbus native who has owned her salon for seven years. “I offer a free haircut to anyone who is willing to donate their hair, man or woman. I just need to be able to get about 10 inches for a ponytail.”
Locks of Love uses a special hairpiece that creates a vacuum seal to fit each child’s scalp, enabling a child to participate in regular athletic activities like swimming or sports, without the fear of the wig falling off. Hairpieces average $2,000 each, and Fondren will be taking monetary contributions as well as hair donations through June 1.
“Last year I had 12 people participate,” said Fondren. “So far this year, I have only had four, but 15 women from a Spanish ministry are supposed to come in and donate. I am really excited about that.
“I just love kids. That’s why this is so important, to raise the quality of life for children, especially because appearance can be a builder or destroyer of self-esteem for some kids.”
Recently, Hannah Brown, a 14-year-old student at Immanuel Center for Christian Education, followed in her sister Rachel’s footsteps and donated 11 inches of hair.
“I have been growing my hair out for a year, since my sister donated last year,” Brown said. “I have a good friend with cancer, but he’s a boy so he wouldn’t want my hair. That doesn’t matter, though, because someone else who really needs it will get a wig.”
Brown’s parents, Mike and Elizabeth Anne Brown, are especially touched by their daughter’s selfless act of kindness.
“Last year Christina suggested Rachel donate some hair, because it was down to her waist,” Elizabeth Anne Brown said. “Now it is becoming a family affair with Hannah participating this year.”
“You have a very different view about these kinds of things after you have survived cancer yourself,” said Mike Brown, who was diagnosed with testicular cancer 16 years ago but has been cancer-free since his surgery.
“It was a life-changing event,” Brown said. “I saw a lot of people in need, and I am proud that my girls are reaching out and giving some of themselves to make another kid happy. When you are sick like that, the little things, like hair, mean a lot.”
Mia Vick brought her husband Rob in to Christina’s for an 11-inch donation.
“I am happy to do this,” Rob Vick said. “I needed a haircut and it’s for a good cause. But, we had better do it quick before I change my mind.”
“I thought this was such a fantastic idea,” Mia Vick said. “My grandmother had cancer, and she was so ashamed of how she looked she went out and bought a wig immediately to boost her self confidence. I can only imagine what it must be like for children.”
Kristin Thompson, a 16-year-old student at Victory Christian Academy, said she first learned of the program in a magazine. She has been growing her hair since sixth grade and plans to donate 20 inches of her hair.
“She set her mind to doing this years ago and has even made me buy special conditioner for her hair so it would be really healthy when she donated it,” Kathi Thompson said of her daughter.
The Thompsons were also touched by cancer. Kathi Thompson said her aunt has ovarian cancer is preparing to start a round of chemotherapy.
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