Family donates nearly 40 inches of hair to children with cancer
Posted 3/21/03

Paula Jackson and her daughters, Ashley and Matti Bowerman had their hair cut off last Thursday for more than just a change - theyíre helping children with cancer.

Jackson, who is vice president-service leader of Alpha Delta Upsilon, a chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, at Anoka Ramsey Community College - Cambridge was looking for a service project to help people with cancer.

She looked into fund raisers for cancer research, but when she came upon the Locks for Love program, she knew thatís what she wanted to do.

Locks for Love is a non-profit organization that receives donated hair and sends it to a company that makes wigs for children who are going through chemotherapy. Each hand-assembled wig takes approximately four months to complete.

The wigs are vacuum-fitted hairpieces which are designed for children who have experienced total hair loss and do not require the use of glue or tape.

The organization, which was founded in 1997, has helped over 850 children since its inception. Children make up over 80 percent of the donors.

Matti, 9, had 14 inches of her long blonde hair cut off, while her sister Ashley, 12, had 12 inches taken off. Mom was the last one to go under the scissors with 131/2 inches finally being removed.

Others can donate as well. All hair types and colors are accepted (except chemically damaged hair), with a minimum of 10 inches in length (tip to tip). Hair should be clean, dry, in a ponytail or braid and put in a plastic bag (hair swept off the floor is unusable).

Even hair that has been cut years ago is usable as long as itís in a ponytail.

Brenda Dehart of Ultra Salon did the honors of cutting Jacksonís and the Bowerman girlsí hair.

Matti, who has only had her hair trimmed in the past - never a lengthy cut, said she was happy about getting her hair cut and donating it to the Locks for Love program. And she seemed delighted with her new hair style.