Clippings of love
Published: June 2, 2005
With the rasp of the scissors, the pony tail comes free and a youth who has lost his or her hair for medical reasons is helped.
Three area females recently used their interest in a new, shorter hairdo as an opportunity to donate their hair to the Locks of Love organization.
The national organization makes wigs for financially disadvantaged youth ages 6 to 18 who have lost their hair for medical reasons, such as cancer. Locks of Love’s custom-fitted hair prosthetics are proved free or for a minimal fee to children. Without the Locks of Love service, such hairpieces can cost up to $3,000, according to the Locks of Love Web site.
Contributing hair to Locks of Love is popular in the area and among the latest contributors are Emily Wissel, 12, of Lynn; Amy Koons, 24, of Connersville; and Sally Wittbrod of Richmond.
Wittbrod was thrilled to learn that she could donate her hair to help others. Twice in the past, her hair reached below her waist and when she cut it, she hated to just throw it away.
After learning about Locks of Love, Wittbrod was inspired to make a donation, especially since she has had friends who have had cancer.
“I’m just glad there’s finally a use for it,” Wittbrod said.
She let her hair grow until it was long enough to provide the required length and then went to barber-stylist Pam Guthrie at the Main Street Barber Shop for the special cut.
Wittbrod’s husband of nearly 39 years, Bob Wittbrod, said it was time.
“It’s long enough,” he said.
Indeed, Wittbrod knew that for herself when taking care of her hair added time to her morning routine.
Wittbrod’s cut pony tail for donation was 14 inches long.
“I think it’s a great thing,” Guthrie said.
Wittbrod’s cut was the second she has done for a Locks of Love donation and Guthrie donated her time in support of Wittbrod’s contribution. Guthrie would like to see more people give their hair to the program.
“I throw so much hair away, it’s a shame,” Guthrie said.
Wittbrod said she probably will grow her hair for Locks of Love again.
“There’s only certain points that it’s work,” she said.
Amy Koons and Emily Wissel reached the decision to donate their hair to Locks of Love because they were ready for a change when they learned about the program.
“I had always thought about it, but I was attached to my long hair,” Koons said.
She considered cutting just 5 inches off her hair, but decided that really wouldn’t change her look enough.
“If I want a change, I just need to go ahead and cut it all and I might as well go ahead and donate it to a good cause,” Koons said. “I thought it would be a good idea, a good way to help me get through the rough stress of cutting it all off.”
Emily said she was talking with her mother, Pam Wissel, about getting a style change when her mother suggested that if she let it grow a little longer, it would be donation-length.
“We talked about it and she decided that’s what she’d like to do,” Pam Wissel said. “It’s a wonderful thing. It’s definitely worth it.”
Emily learned that her cousin, Lindsay Austin, had leukemia when she was a child and Emily’s older sister, Maggie Wissel, had her hair cut for Locks of Love in Austin’s honor. Austin recovered from the illness and remains in good health today.
With her cousin as inspiration, Emily got a 10-inch Locks of Love from her aunt, Austin’s mother, Cindy Austin at Franky’s in Lynn.
“It was pretty weird starting out. Then I grew into. I was ready to get it cut,” Emily said.
“It feels good to have done it.”
Like Emily, Koons is still getting used to a shorter hairdo.
“This is the shortest it’s ever been,” she said. “I like it.”
Koons thought she would cry during the cut, but knowing the hair would go to children who had little or none gave her strength.
“I didn’t feel bad at all about it,” Koons said. “A piece of me is going to live on forever in helping these children that don’t have hair.”
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