Local resident Debbie Leary donated 14 inches of hair to a good cause Saturday, as she and others donated to the Locks of Love program through an event at Davis & Elkins College.
Leary said she read about the donation event in The Inter-Mountain and was excited to help.
"I grew my hair (long) with the intention of donating it, so when it came out in the paper, I said, 'Yes!'" she said. "I thought if someone else can use it, why not?"
The Locks of Love nonprofit organization uses donations of hair and funding to create vacuum-fitted hairpieces for financially disadvantaged children who have suffered long-term medical hairloss. The organization, which began in 1998, provided the hairpieces to those younger than age 21. Each piece uses six to 10 donated ponytails.
The local event was organized by Casandra Trudgeon, and it was the first time she'd put something like that together.
She had grown her own hair long to donate and then couldn't find another donation event locally.
"I've wanted to do it for a while," she said.
Trudgeon worked with Susie Mullens, D&E's director of counseling and wellness, and they hosted the Locks of Love donation event during the college's men's and women's basketball games Saturday afternoon.
Stylists from Hair Graphics in Elkins donated their time to "tidy up" the haircuts for those who donated hair during the event, and they stayed fairly busy as a number of women decided to take part.
Local donors also offered prize packages for anyone who donated hair or money.
Trudgeon said she was thrilled with everyone's help, and she hopes even more people will be able to volunteer at future events.
