Vanessa Ferris has had long hair for as long as her Girl Guide leader can remember.
When Ferris started talking about cutting her hair, her leader and one-time day care provider Marlene Skerritt suggested she donate it to make wigs for kids who lose their hair due to illness or treatments.
After doing some research they decided on Angel Hair for Kids, an organization in Mississauga. The wigs they create use up to 10 to 12 donated ponytails to make one hair prosthesis and the cost is between $800 and $1,000 for manufacturing and other related costs.
With all of her fellow Girl Guides and family looking on, hairdresser Colleen Bosomworth from Hair Daze in Drayton separated Vanessa’s hair into two long pony tails and snipped them off. She received a real cut after the initial snips and said with a smile on her face that it felt like she had no hair left.
Vanessa’s grandmother passed away from cancer and she had a wig when she lost her hair to her treatments, so this is something that hits close to home for her and her family. The Alma Girl Guides also have a special place in their hearts for this kind of organization. A young girl in Alma who was a Guide passed away of cancer on July 3, 2000 and Skerritt showed the girls a picture of the young lady who the Alma school remembers with a memorial tree planted in her honour.
Alma Girl Guides have been busy with activities including a sleepover at the Ontario Science Centre and will wrap up the year with a weekend at Girl Guides of Canada Camp Conestogo.
