February 21, 2001
Hair today, gone for Locks
School custodian cuts his hair for children's program
By LISA PERKINS
Herald staff writer
"I feel a little lightheaded," joked Kevin Dufort after trading in his 14 inch ponytail for a shaved head. Dufort, head custodian at Bertha Vos Elementary, was the center of attention at an assembly on Valentine's Day, where students witnessed his transformation.
Dufort had been growing his hair for nearly two years with a specific purpose in mind. He wanted to donate his hair to Locks of Love, the not-for-profit organization that provides hair prosthetics to financially disadvantaged children with medical hair loss.
"I decided to grow my hair out after seeing rocker Sammy Hagar on the Jay Leno show, he had recently donated his hair," Dufort said, "I got through a lot of bad hair days knowing I would be helping a kid who was having no-hair days."
Dufort wasn't the only star of the show, the school also recognized seven young girls who have donated their tresses to Locks of Love and Wigs for Kids, a similar organization.
Erin Wyers, a first-grader donated 14 inches; Lauren Kamps, a sixth-grader donated 11 inches; Stasha Yancho, a first-grader donated 12 inches; Hannah Yancho, a kindergartner, donated 12 inches; Miranda Belcher, a first-grader donated 14 inches and Sydney Craig, a first-grader donated a 10 inch ponytail that was being saved in a babybook.
They all agreed that it felt "really good" to be able to help out other children.
For more information on how to donate, contact Locks of Love at 1-888-896-1588 or at their website www.locksoflove.org or Wigs for Kids at 1-440-333-4433 or at their website www.wigsforkids.org.