Stroup, Navarro cut their hair for a cause

Photo

Though this was Christina Stroup’s first fund-raiser for the foundation, she plans to make the donation jar and her hair shaving an annual event. She says it is a great way to raise money and increase participation and awareness of cancer survivors and victims.

Photo

Lisa Navarro, a sophomore at Boardman High, prepares to make her third hair donation to Locks for Love.

By SHAIYLA HAKEEM

shakeem@vindy.com

To many, hair is an indispensable physical attribute. For two local women, this beauty modifier is used as a gift that is given straight from the heart.

Christina Stroup of Coitsville Township decided to trade in her hair for an outward expression of support for cancer survivors, victims and those affected by cancer. On Thanksgiving day, Stroup stripped her head of hair in honor of her late father who was overtaken by cancer in 2006.

“I wanted to do something in his memory and for cancer survivors,” said Stroup.

Her hair was too short to donate, but her shaved head was very impressionable. The AwwwMazing Place Boutique and Art Gallery, a service provided by the A Way With Words Foundation Inc., opened Aug. 29 in the Southern Park Mall directly across from Stroup’s store.

The foundation was founded in 2003 by breast cancer survivor Brenda Rider to increase cancer awareness in children, aid cancer research funding and provide support for survivors. It is also used as means for artistic expression through writing.

“A lot of people have a way with words. Why not give them something to do while they’re going through?” said Rider, president of the A Way With Words Foundation Inc.

Inspired by talking with Rider about how her foundation reaches and touches the lives of cancer patients, Stroup decided to make a personal effort to help the cause.

Stroup jump-started a fundraiser at her place of employment to aid the A Way With Words Foundation Inc. A donation jar was placed in her store, the Great Phoenix Trading Company, and customers were urged to donate money on behalf of themselves or cancer survivors. Her company even agreed to match what was collected through the donation jar.

“A lot of people looked at me funny,” said Stroup, “But many were eager to donate.”

Stroup continued to keep her haircut until Christmas Eve, the last day of the fundraiser. A check totaling $250 was given to the A Way With Words Foundation Inc. in support of its cause, enabling cancer survivors with avenues to express themselves.

Though this was Stroup’s first fundraiser for the foundation, she plans to make the donation jar and her hair shaving an annual event. She says it is a great way to raise money and increase participation and awareness of cancer survivors and victims.

Selflessness has no age when it comes to cutting, or in this case, donating locks of hair. Lisa Navarro, 15, made her first hair donation to Locks of Love while she was still in elementary school.

“I was really young and my hair was really long. I wanted to give it to a good cause,” said Navarro.

Locks of Love is a nonprofit organization that provides hair prosthetics to children who have lost their hair due to chronic illnesses.

She says that at a young age, many of her friends were upset with her cutting her hair.

When she explained to them that she donated it to those who had lost their own hair, they immediately viewed the haircut as a noble act.

Now, as a sophomore at Boardman High School, she has recently made her third donation to Locks of Love.

“It felt good knowing that getting my hair cut can help others feel good about themselves,” said Navarro.

Navarro donated 10 inches of her hair in October, but there may be a fourth donation made sometime in the future.

“My hair grows really fast and if I let it get really long and decide to cut it, I definitely will donate it again,” said Navarro.