Locks of Love: The Evolution of My Hair, and a Statement to Make a Difference


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Hi, you might recognize that beautiful smiling face before you. That is my face, well it was my face over the last couple of years. I am not here to talk about my face or my smile, which some have called “winning.” I am not even here to talk about myself, although I could do that all day, and I will relate to you my personal experience because that is the only experience I have. The real reason I am writing you today is to point out my hair.

These pictures happen to be in chronological order, so as you may see, my hair has grown a tad longer in the last couple of years. I would like to say that my reasons were always altruistic, but the fact is I just happen to like my hair a little longer.

However, as we keep moving left my hair has grown to places I have never seen it grow before. A psuedo-mullet starts to appear, and my mane has gone long past the getting in front of my eyes stage. You see, these luscious locks have gone beyond the personal preference of good looks. This hair that I have is to make a statement. Not a statement of rebellion, although I have been known to do such things a time or two. This is not about rebelling against the clean cut properness that society has forced on me. To me, this is a much more important statement.

This is a statement of help, a statement of hope, and a statement against something that I have felt directly and indirectly the last couple of months. A statement against cancer.

I am allowed to make this statement through an organization called Locks of Love. Locks of Love is a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces (wigs) to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada under age 18 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis (IE: mostly hairloss from cancer treatment).

10 inches of hair is cut off and made into wigs for disadvantaged children. I never had cancer as a child, but I know the pain and difficulty of going through an extensive medical procedure that makes you look different. Dealing with the medical part is hard enough. Locks of Love takes away the pain of having the stares, the wondering, the looks of pity that are often unwanted. It allows children to feel normal, and when you are dealing with something like cancer, even one day of normalcy can lift the weight of the world off your shoulders.

Sometimes I get asked about my hair, hey it is a good conversation starter. I have noticed that about half the ladies like it, and half don’t. You can’t please everyone all of the time. My father really hates my hair, let me tell you. He is always telling me to get a haircut, so if you are one of those people who are looking to rebel against your parents. This is really a perfect way for all the males out there.

None of that really matters to me though. I believe in the cause. I am currently a medical student, so I believe in helping people. Often there is more pain to disease and illness than just physical pain. I think that is one thing some doctors forget. My hair has been pretty long and will continue to be long, so hey, if you are going to do something, do it all the way. That is my motto. So I urge you all to look into Locks of Love. Make a statement, make a difference. If you have long hair and were looking to cut it. Please look into donating it. It can help someone’s life become a little brighter, and in the long run, that is all any of us could ask for.

More Info: Locks of Love

Image Credit: Daniel Hohler

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