Sue Scheff: Teens helping teens and putting a smile on a child's face

There is nothing funny about the word cancer, and I recall Gilda Radner stated something similar to that in her book, “It’s Aways Something” which chronicled her battle with cancer.
Cancer has touched many lives. Whether you are a survivor of cancer, know someone battling it, or have lost someone to this disease, cancer is not a welcome guest in our lives. Unfortunately we don’t have control over all aspects of our ever changing life.

What can we do to help those that are suffering? Especially young children that are struggling with different forms of cancer such as Leukemia or other causes of hair loss. We need to give them hope and a sense of normalcy. These kids want to reach their teens, and hoping someday they will be going to college, have a family and so much more we take for granted.

You don’t have to have deep pockets to help. You don’t even have to write a check! All you need is hair! Do you or your kids have 10 inches or hair or more? Maybe you can work towards this and encourage your kids too. This is great way to not only bring self confidence and a smile to a child that has lost their hair; you can feel good about yourself. The benefits of giving will not only change the life of the recipient, it will change you too. Everyone knows it is better to give than to receive, and in this case, the gift is priceless and costs you nothing. You truly are the one that will be gaining so much.

Locks of Love is a win-win organization all the way around. During this month of Breast Cancer Awareness learn how you can help, and you don’t have to have a bank account. As a Parent Advocate I encourage parents to get their kids and teens involved. Giving back to your community is part of building their self esteem which in the end will help them to make better choices in their lives.

Be an example for your kids, reach out and give to children that need a boost of self confidence and a sense of normalcy simply by donating something that you are fortunate enough to have and will grow back faster than you realize. However the best part is how your heart will grow.

What is Locks of Love:

Locks of Love is a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada under age 18 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis. We meet a unique need for children by using donated hair to create the highest quality hair prosthetics. Most of the children helped by Locks of Love have lost their hair due to a medical condition called alopecia areata, which has no known cause or cure. The prostheses we provide help to restore their self-esteem and their confidence, enabling them to face the world and their peers.

Mission and Vision for Locks of Love:

Locks of Love is a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under age 18 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis. We meet a unique need for children by using donated hair to create the highest quality hair prosthetics.

Our 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.

Benefits for Children:

The children who receive these hairpieces have lost more than their hair; they suffer from a loss of self. Many children have been teased by classmates and/or embarrassed by the attention they receive because of their hair loss. They often will withdraw from normal childhood activities such as swimming, going to the mall or even playing with their friends. While wearing a hairpiece is certainly not a cure for these children, it can help restore some of the normalcy to their everyday lives that most of us take for granted. It is our goal to help provide a foundation on which they can begin to rebuild their self-esteem.

As holidays approach, think about this. Today’s economy will cause many cut-backs on commercial gifts, but this gift will keep on giving and doesn't cost you anything but time and love.

For more info: Locks of Love, Causes of Hair Loss, Other ways to help, Donate Hair, Contact Locks of Love.

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