Sedgebrook will host fund-raising event to benefit Locks of Love

By Kate Newton Schmelyun
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

Forget the traditional Valentine’s Day trappings of chocolate and roses. On February 14, the Cardinal Salon and Spa at Sedgebrook will show its love by hosting a “haircut-a-thon” to benefit Locks of Love, a nonprofit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children suffering from long-term medical hair loss.

A big crowd for a great cause
The event, which will be open to the general public, is expected to draw a crowd of Sedgebrook residents, their children, and grandchildren, as well as members of the local community. Everyone who can donate 10 inches of hair will receive a free haircut from the professional stylists at the Cardinal Salon.

However, even those with short hair will have an opportunity to help. All day long, Sedgebrook will donate 20% of the cost of a haircut to Locks of Love.

A history of helping
Locks of Love provides children under the age of 18 with custom, vacuumfitted hairpieces made entirely from human hair, which do not require tape or glue. According to the organization, it takes about six to ten donated ten-inch ponytails to make just a single hairpiece.

Most of the children who benefit from Locks of Love suffer from an autoimmune condition called alopecia areata, for which there is no known cause or cure. Others have endured severe burns, radiation treatment, or other dermatological condition resulting in permanent hair loss.

If not for Locks of Love, a realistic and confidence- boosting hair piece would not be financially feasible for many of these children and their families. The typical retail cost for a vacuum-fitted hair piece starts at $3,500.