TRAVERSE CITY -- Dozens of people got a haircut today at Traverse City Central High School - but it was all for a good cause!
Nikki Schweitzer, a TC Central senior, organized a "Hair for Hope" event. She presented the idea to her mom in memory of her Aunt Lori, who passed away due to breast cancer, and after six months of planning, the high school's lunch hours were spent cutting some locks!
Nikki said she was expecting at least thirty girls to donate their ponytails today, and that they were also seeing some last-minute decisions being made to help contribute. Even guys were doing their part by shaving their heads.
Ladies had their hair tied back in sectioned ponytails and cut by their friends, and then stylists took over to complete the look. As for Nikki, her uncle was driving up from Grand Rapids to cut her hair.
Nikki hopes the event will continue for years to come, and wants to thank everyone involved- all the brave girls getting their hair cut, the great stylists, all of the sponsors- she is very grateful for the community being able to come together.
Every person there was grinning, laughing, hugging, and getting used to some new do's. Madeline Vander Velde said, "It means a lot to me because there aren't many ways that teens can give back to our area, to our community." Her aunt just had cancer again, and she thought it was a nice way to feel like helping. She also said it gave her a good feeling to see so many others willing to donate.
Nikki stated, "It makes me speechless! My Aunt was a beautiful lady, inside and out, and when the cancer raged on inside her, it effected her outer beauty. But with real hair wigs, she was able to bring some of that back. To see my friends, my classmates, my peers giving up and sacrificing their own beauty for someone else, it really touches me."
The event today benefitted the Pantene Beautiful Lengths Program and Locks of Love.
Not enough hair or not able to attend? You can still have your hair cut elsewhere to give, donate money, or purchase a t-shirt.
