(Winter Springs, August 2000) Noon Friday, August 18^th at Friends Hair Design in Winter Springs author MyLinda Butterworth* and her daughter’s best friend Laila Grigley (age 6 1/2) are getting a hair cut. While this doesn’t seem like such a big deal to most people it is a gift of love. MyLinda‘s pitch-black hair hangs several inches past her waist and her petite sidekick Laila’s long blond curly hair is also past her waist. You see last year MyLinda’s beautician told her if she would cut a few inches more than the six inches she normally cuts at the beginning of the summer it could be donated to Locks of Love. They then take the hair and make it into a wig for a child dealing with hair loss from a medical condition or chemotherapy treatments. Having dealt with hair loss because of chemo many years ago MyLinda understood the trauma associated with a glowing pate. Laila however at the same time last year saw a news clip about a little girl her age with a bald head who was going to get a special wig made just for her, thanks to Locks of Love. She decided that she would let her hair grow till it was long enough to cut and donate. Both MyLinda and Laila decided that they would cut their hair together showing that age doesn’t matter when you want to help someone else. So on Friday these two will cut their hair 12-14 inches each, so that a disadvantaged girl or boy under the age of 18 won’t have to listen to the teasing associated with no hair.

September and October are both cancer awareness months and to these two making people aware that cancer also usually also means hair loss due to chemotherapy is important. So if you are tired of your long tresses whether you are male or female you can help a child with some new locks. Locks of Love is a charity that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under the age of eighteen. The donated hair must be at least 10 inches long (preferably 12") and be bundled in pony tail or braid and placed in a plastic bag and mailed to Locks of Love, 1640 S. Congress Ave., Suite 104, Palm Springs, FL 33461. It takes 3 to 4 donations to make each wig and there are many children waiting for this gift. What MyLinda and Laila do on Friday is just a start, but what you do tomorrow could make a difference to a young child.

For more information about Locks of Love call 561/963-1677 or check out their website at www.locksoflove.com