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Friday's Internet Edition, November 21, 2008.
Locks of Love cut with care for kids
Local girls give gift of hair
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Photo By Paige Lampson
Braided, curly or straight, gifts of hair to kids who have lost theirs to disease or injury are gifts of love. Galt girls Britney Bauanen, Ashley Demelo and Stephanie Bauanen show off the gifts of girly ponytails they gave to Locks of Love last week.
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By Paige Lampson
Staff Writer
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Three special Galt girls donated a wonderful gift of themselves last week, all to help other children who aren’t as fortunate as they are, and this wasn’t a quick decision to help, but something that takes two to three years to grow.
Girls love fixing, braiding and decorating their hair, but these three girls wanted to share the gift of their hair with other children who, for various medical reasons, don’t have hair.
Maria Bauanen brought her two daughters, Stephanie, 10, and Britney, 8, in to the beauty salon last week, but not for a trim and a style.
No, the girls, and their best friend, Ashley Demelo, arrived at Galt Beauty Supply to have it all cut off, but not for fashion, or even to beat the summer heat. No, the girls arrived with full pony tails swinging to have them lopped off and the hair donated to the internationally acclaimed Locks of Love.
Locks of Love is a public nonprofit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under age 18 suffering fromlong-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis. They use donated hair to create the highest quality hair prosthetics.
Locks of Love mission is to return a sense of self confidence and normalcy to children suffering from hair loss by utilizing donated ponytails to provide the highest quality hair prosthetics to financially disadvantaged children. The children receive hair prostheses free of charge or on a sliding scale, based on financial need.
This was the second time Stephanie has given the gift of hair. She donated for the first time three years ago, and had been growing her second contribution ever since.
Britney, soon to be a third grader at Valley Oaks, wanted to help others.
“My mom said it was a good idea because children with cancer don’t have any hair, and they can use mine,” said Britney.
Best friend and classmate of Britney, seven-year-old Ashley Demelo, came to donate also. “This is for kids that have cancer and can’t afford stuff,” said the third grader. “Plus my hair gets really hot on those hot days, so I wanted to donate it.”
Ashley’s mom, Maria Demelo, supports her girls.
“I am very proud of my girls,” said Demelo. “My other daughter, Brieana, gave last year and is growing her hair out so it will be long enough to donate again next year.”
Anyone interested in donating can contact their local beautician, or contact Galt Beauty Supply and Salon at 745-5988, and they will be happy to help.
For more information on Locks of Love, or to make a donation go to the Web site www.locksoflove.org.
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