Lynn KIPP Academy joins forces with Locks for Love

LYNN-One of the many tragedies associated with a child or teenager who has been diagnosed with cancer is the difficult and often embarrassing side effect of losing hair after radiation therapy. For others who suffer from Alopecia, a condition that renders some individuals completely bald, the symptoms can last a lifetime.

For some, the situation is made worse when mounting medical bills create a difficult financial situation for family members, and can sometimes prevent patients from purchasing life-like wigs that can cover the effects of radiation therapy and add confidence and boost morale during the recovery process.

Understanding this difficult time, the Locks for Love Foundation has come up with a way to help these struggling patients while they attempt to recover from the crippling disease. Relying on hair donations from healthy individuals, the foundation takes real human hair and creates wigs for cancer patients to use during radiation therapy.

KIPP Academy Lynn, as part of the Seventh Grade Service Committee’s latest community service project, has decided to join forces with Locks for Love, an effort announced to the student body as a whole Friday afternoon.

The nine-student service group has been working with the charity for some time, donating two lunches a week in an effort to get the movement off the ground at KIPP. Students explained the charity and showed a PowerPoint presentation about the foundation, before asking for the support of their peers.

After viewing the short slideshow, the presentation took on a festive atmosphere, as seventh-grade science teacher Jennifer Startek took the microphone and began to explain the donation process in more detail.

She told the group that anyone who donates would be improving the lives of someone who is suffering, and asked for the support of anyone who is willing to sacrifice a few months of short hair to step up and donate.

As an incentive, Startek, who has brunette hair that flows to the middle of her back, vowed to cut her locks along with fifth grade special education teacher Emily Stead on the spot if at least 15 students pledged to do the same at a ceremony held next month.

“This is not the time to look at people with long hair and pressure them into doing this, there are other ways to donate to the charity if they do not want to cut their hair,” Startek said. “But if students do want to sign up and pledge, we will have a ceremony next month.”

After she finished her speech, one by one students began to stand up and write their names on the list pledging a donation. Locks for Love regulations require that the hair has to be at least 10 inches, not bleached and not a hair extension, which ruled out some, but overall the response was overwhelming.

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