A piece of her love
Elementary
student donates
hair to Locks of Love
Organization
provides
hairpieces for sick children
By
Helen E. McKinney
Contributing Writer
CRESTWOOD, Ky. (January 2010) – When 8-year-old
Faith Stoltz decided to donate her long, straight brown hair to Locks
of Love, there was no changing her mind. With 10 inches of hair gone,
she selflessly gave of herself to help others in need.
Stoltz, a second-grader at Kenwood Station Elementary School in Crestwood,
Ky., had discussed donating her hair to the Locks of Love organization
for some time with her mother.
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Photos
provided Eight-year-old
Faith Stoltz had 10 inches |
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“It’s something we had talked about for a couple
of years,” said her mother, Melissa Moore-Stoltz.
When her mother asked her if she would like to grow out her hair and
donate it, Stoltz answered her with a definite “yes.” The
8-year-old knew it was the right thing to do.
“I tried to get her to wait until spring,” said Moore-Stoltz.
“But her answer was ‘No. Let’s do it now!’ ”
Locks of Love is a non-profit organization that provides hairpieces
to financially disadvantaged children under age 21 in the United States
and Canada. The recipients are children who suffer from long-term medical
hair loss from any diagnosis, such as cancer treatments or a condition
known as alopecia areata.
“Faith was very excited at the thought that other children could
also help,” said Moore-Stoltz, whose own mother had cancer and
wore a wig. This was Stoltz’ introduction to the idea that others,
including children, needed wigs and hairpieces.
“I knew that it would go to a child that was sick,” said Stoltz.
But she admitted that it made her feel a little weird to know that another
child would be wearing her hair.
Most wigs are made to fit adult heads, so Locks of Love provides a much
needed service for children. Hairpieces can help restore self-esteem,
confidence and provide a sense of normalcy to a child that has undergone
a traumatic medical experience.
Donated hair has to be at least 10 inches in length. Stoltz had her
hair cut on Oct. 12, 2009, by hair stylist Paula Chelf. Chelf is a friend
of Stoltz’s mother and works from her home-based salon in Crestwood.
After 26 years of cutting hair, Chelf said she has seen an increase
within the last 10 years in the number of people donating their hair
to Locks of Love. There are more individuals in their 20s and 30s donating
hair, she said.
“It’s a wonderful thing to do,” said Chelf. She has several
customers that have grown their hair out and donated it more than once.
Chelf feels there is more public awareness to hair loss because of medical
conditions and individuals are more conscience of donating their hair
now than they used to be.
“Anytime you can help someone else out, it’s a good cause,”
said Chelf about the Locks of Love organization. Women and girls are
often more concerned with how their hair affects their looks, and it’s
a great idea “for kids to grow their hair out and donate it.”
Though none of her classmates in Doty’s second-grade class have
donated hair, Stoltz said she hopes her doing so will encourage them
to do the same. When asked if she would consider donating her hair again
in the future, Stoltz replied, “Maybe.”
• For more information about Locks of Love, visit: www.LocksOfLove.org.