Wigs for Kids: Caring and Sharing
By Kelley Bell |
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Editor's Note: Shelly Klemmer is one of (614) Magazine's unsung heroes, our page designers, responsible for many of the beautiful layouts you see each month. Her humility, courage, and commitment to donating her hair is inspirational, and I am proud to see her story on these pages.
As a teen, Shelly Klemmer developed 'trichotillomania' - an impulse-control disorder characterized by the repeated urge to pull out her hair. Although she suffered from a low-level of the disorder, she realized the urge was unhealthy and looked for ways to break the pattern. Her moment of clarity occurred when she saw a television documentary on the trichotillomania.
"I saw a little girl with trichotillomania on television crying into the camera saying, 'I just want to have hair again,'" said Klemmer. "The sadness in her eyes absolutely broke my heart. That was when I made a conscious decision to stop the pulling and start giving."
Klemmer grabbed the phone and set an appointment at The Charles Penzone Salon for her first hair donation. Now age 26, she has cut her curls for the cause four times since then, providing full-cranial prosthetics for children suffering from cancer, alopecia, and other hair-loss related disorders.
Klemmer said it takes about a year-and-a-half to grow it long enough to donate, and noted that the process has become part of her identity and reputation in the community.
"Although I lose a lot of hair and a bit of my self-image, I gain so much more by giving of myself to help another in need," she said.
(614) Magazine layout designer, Shelly Klemmer, after donating her locks and getting styled at the Short North Charles Penzone
Photo: Christopher Atwood
Wigs for Kids is an Ohio based not-for-profit 501c charity that operates solely on donations. They create hair pieces for children all over the United States. Each wig requires 12 to 15 full braids of donated hair and costs a whopping $1500 to produce. Hair pieces are custom made and individually fitted for every child. Families are referred by a doctor, nurse, social worker, or related agencies, and go through a board approval process to become eligible for the program. Other organizations that offer wigs for patients include Locks of Love and Pantene's Beautiful Links Program.
The St. Baldrick's Foundation sponsors events around the country for kids with cancer, and you, too, can help. Attend a "Hair-Raiser" at Fado's Irish Pub at Easton. Organizer Scott Neff will host the annual party just prior to St. Patty's Day, on Saturday March 13, 2010. Last year they raised over $25,000, with more than thirty people taking center stage to lose their locks. To date, St. Baldrick's boasts over 106,000 people who have shaved their heads in solidarity with children fighting cancer. For more information about the Easton event call Scott at (614) 418-0066 or e-mail sneff@fadoirishpub.com.
Originally Published: January 1, 2010
