Volunteers Going To Beautiful Lengths To Help Cancer Survivors

By John Voket

Terry Stoller, the chairperson for the Cancer Awareness/Beautiful Lengths program for this year’s Relay For Life, was surrounded by an enthusiastic group of stylists and owner, Bonnie Fredricks, during a recent visit to the Sandy Hook Hair Company. Ms Stoller was introducing herself to the staff at the local salon, which is renewing its commitment to partner with the Relay on the Pantene Beautiful Lengths program.

“We’ve got to tell people to start growing their hair now, so it will be long enough to donate on the night of the Relay,” Ms Fredricks said. As in years past, staff members from the SHHC will be on hand at the Relay For Life June 7–8, cutting and packaging Beautiful Lengths donations, which will eventually be processed into hair pieces and extensions for individuals who have lost their hair because of cancer treatments.

According to the website for the cause, beautifullengths.com, a real-hair wig allows a woman to look in the mirror and at least see a familiar face while she fights to regain a sense of normalcy in her life.

As Pantene Beautiful Lengths wigs are created, they are distributed for free through select American Cancer Society wig banks across the country. The society can also help callers with a number of resources providing educational and emotional support.

According to Ms Fredricks, it takes 6 ponytails to make a wig, and getting six people involved provides one wig for a woman in need.

“Every inch makes a real difference,” she said. Anyone interested in donating hair for the cause during the Relay cutting activity June 7 should note the following:

*Donated hair must be a minimum of 8 inches long measured from just above the elastic band of the ponytail to the ends.

*Hair may be colored with vegetable dyes, rinses, and semipermanent dyes. It cannot be bleached, permanently colored, or chemically treated.

*Hair cannot be more than five percent gray, and wavy or curly hair may be straightened before measuring.

Women facing cancer can find out about the availability of a Pantene Beautiful Lengths wig by calling the American Cancer Society at 877-227-1596.

For further information on the Beautiful Lengths segment of the Relay visit the aforementioned website. To find out more about volunteering for the Relay, call 203-948-3878 or view http://main.acsevents.org/rflctnewtown.