Thirteen year-old gives locks to mark her 13th

Hailey Reusch Young Hailey Reusch's 13th birthday wish was very uncharacteristic of most new teenagers.

She wanted to remember her birthday in a meaningful way, so rather than asking for something special, she gave something special. Hailey celebrated this important passage into young adulthood by donating her long, beautiful hair to "Locks of Love".

"Locks of Love", a nonprofit organization, provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children suffering from longterm medical hair loss. The organization creates high quality hair prosthetics by using donated hair.

Most children helped by Locks of Love suffer from a medical condition called alopecia areata, an auto-immune disorder that causes the hair follicles to shut down and has no known cause or cure.

Cancer constitutes the second highest percentage of recipients; radiation treatment can cause permanent hair loss and chemotherapy may also cause long-term hair loss depending on the length of treatment needed.

Now a grade seven student at Hyland Heights Public School, Hailey had been inspired by fellow students who made similar contributions the year before during a Donation Campaign.

Over the years, she had received many comments on her beautiful hair. Her mother, Karen Reusch, says Hailey "has always had a kind heart. She really loves school and was inspired by the idea of helping another child with this donation."

Hailey decided to wait until this year so that she could grow her hair even longer before visiting "Changes Hair Studio" on Shelburne's Main Street, where hair is prepared and cut for donation. All hair donations must be at least 10 inches long, washed, dried and cut in a pony tail or braid. It is then stored in a plastic bag, and then inside a padded envelope and mailed to "Locks of Love".

Changes Hair Studio will be running another donation campaign this spring. If you are willing to cut your hair as a gift to "Locks of Love" and help a child regain self confidence, call Crystal or Glenda at 925-0979.

Hailey says her new short hair was a shock at first, but now she likes it so much she might keep it trimmed. Her mom says it was a memorable 13th birthday and one Hailey feels really good about. "She knows it was well worth the sacrifice".