Locks of Love


Submitted
  Hi! My name is Shannon McCook - Miss Shannon
to my students. I currently own Dance Works, in
Jasper and teach full time at Sharon's School of
Dance, in Live Oak.
  For as long as I can remember, I've always had
LOTS of hair. My mom told me I had my first hair
cut at 10 days old. By the time I was four years old,
it was past my waist and I kept it long until after
sixth grade, when I gave into the desire to be like the
crowd and have short, permed hair. That phase only
lasted two years; then I began growing it out my
freshman year of high school and continued to wear
it long until well after I graduated.
  At the age of 25, I had the desire to cut my hair
again, hated that I was cutting so much off, and it
was just going in the trash - if only someone could
use it. I had heard talk of an organization that would
take hair donations to make wigs for children bit I
could not find any information. Now understand
this was when the Internet was still fairly new to
everyone and not everything could be found on the
Internet.
  After keeping my hair short for a couple of years,
I let it grow out again and kept it long. My 30th
birthday was rolling around and the Internet was
the source for all knowledge. Now I was able to find
out about "Locks of Love," an organization that takes
hair donations of 10" or longer and makes wigs for
children who have lost their hair due to disease. I
knew right then and there that I was cutting my hair
again and this time it was going to someone who
could use it. I cut my hair in two separate braids,
each measuring 17". I felt exhilarated! I couldn't wait


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to grow my hair out again and make another dona-
tion!
  So here I was, nearly three years later with hair
back down to my. waist and ready to make the cut
again. Then it hit me, why not ask my students to
make a donation with me. How amazing would that
be? So, I set a goal to try and recruit 20 dancers from
either of my studios to make the cut with me. In Jan-
uary, I sent home letters telling them about "Locks of
Love" and a new organization "Beautiful Lengths"
(Beautiful Lengths is sponsored by Pantene and
makes wigs for women affected by Cancer, free of
charge) and asking for volunteers. I immediately
had five students sign up. As time went on, a few
more added their name to the list.
  As May rolled around, it was time to iron out de-
tails and set everything up. Friday, May 23, was se-
lected as the day and 5 p.m. the time to gather every-
one together, but where to gather? A dancer's parent
suggested I call Loretta Thomas (another dance par-
ent) who owns a local salon in Live Oak, Hot Heads.
I told her my plan and asked if she could help. She
was so excited to help and even got her-husband,
Kickin' Kevin, a DJ on WQHL to help us out and
spread the word on the radio!
  Friday, May 23, finally arrived and a large group
of girls ranging from six years old to 18 years gath-
ered with me to make the cut. Several people had
dropped off previously cut ponytails earlier that
day. Local restaurant, Grace Manor donated deli-
cious treats for everyone to enjoy while waiting to
get their hair cut and styled. Excitement was a buzz!
After "before" pictures, everyone started being put
into ponytails, measured, and snipped by Loretta
Thomas, Tammy Corbin, Cher Register, and Priscil-
la Lane. After I braided my hair into two separate
braids, two Live Oak students Ashton Kelton (7,
years old) and Katrina Sivyer (14 years old) cut off
my braids! Lots of new% hairstyles were given at a re-
duced rate and lots ot happy girls left the salon!
Since then, several more ponytails have been
dropped off to be sent in with the group.
  A total of 27 people donated between 8" to 21" of
hair giving us a grand total of 334" of hair. Twelve
ponytails will be sent to Beautiful Lengths and 18
ponytails will be sent to Locks of Love.
  Young ladie- donating hair from Hamilton Coun-
ty was Jes-ica Carter. Diane Carter, Julianna Wheel-
er. Abigail Barthelme-, and Cheyenne Cribbs. Do-
nating hair from Live Oak was Brooke Wetzel, Mari-
ah Shearer, Ashton Kelton, Harli Feeney, Kami
Boswell, Kaila Dalton, Megan Shearer, Patty
Bo-swell. Julia Robinson. Alyssa Phillips, Jennifer Pe-
tit. lennifer Da\ is, Brittany McCullers, Katrina Sivy-
                        er, Ariana Gienger, Ann-
     Marie Scott, Abby Mick-
                       Sler, Natalie Fina, Melissa
                       Burgess, Vicky   Duck-


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wiler and an anonymous donor.
  THANK YOU to everyone who donated - to HOT
HEADS - to GRACE MANOR to WQHL and Kickin'
Kevin Thomas!
  If anyone would like to donate their hair in the fu-
ture, information for both organizations can be
found online at www.locksoflove.org or www.beau-
tifullengths.com. Both websites provide information
for hair requirements and mailing addresses.  ,


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THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2008


THE JASPER NEWS Jasper, FL


PAGE3 10A


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