Wigs For Kids –

The Kindest Cut Of All

By Tanjua Damon

Three Newtown seven-year-olds have put their heads to a good cause. They have cut off their long hair to donate it to Wigs for Kids, a non-profit organization that provides wigs to children who have lost their hair because of cancer, alopecia (baldness), trichotillomania (pulling out one’s hair), burn accident victims, and other conditions.

Sandy Hook students Taylor Daniels and Brittany Soucar decided to cut off their hair before Christmas to give other children who have lost their hair a chance to have hair again. Taylor cut off 11 inches of her hair, while Brittany took 12 inches from hers to send to Wigs for Kids in Rocky River, Ohio.

Brittany cut her hair just after Christmas. It was not an easy thing for her to do either, but she knew it was for a good cause.

“[I was] freaked. I felt like I was bald,” Brittany said. “I got excited. I just wanted a kid to be happy.”

Taylor was not too nervous to do the good deed for another child who needed hair. She had her hair cut just after New Year’s.

“I saw other people cutting their hair,” Taylor said. “I thought I might want to do it.”

Both the girls’ parents were a little bit more nervous about the prospect of their little girls cutting off their very long hair.

Debbie Daniels heard about Wigs for Kids quite some time ago, thinking it might be something for the future. Taylor’s hair is still waiting to be sent and is hanging on the refrigerator at home.

“I saw it somewhere a long time ago because we were going to do it for Kelsey, Taylor’s sister,” Mrs Daniels said. “Oh yeah, it was a big shock. They took that one scissor cut and you wanted to go ‘stop!’”

Taylor says she was not that nervous, but her older sister Kelsey had a different perspective on the hair cutting matter.

“She was kind of nervous,” Kelsey said. “She wasn’t sure if she was going to do it or not.”

Denise Soucar admits her nerves got the best of her when Brittany’s hair was cut. She cried softly “Oh no,” and could not believe it was actually being done. Brittany’s hair has been sent to the organization in Ohio.

“I also wanted long, long hair, but never could grow it,” Mrs Soucar said. “To cut it off was real, real sad.”

Now that the girls are sporting shorter haircuts, both moms admit it is a bit more difficult to pick out their children.

“It was like their symbol,” Mrs Soucar said. “But now it is how many hours can you spend in front of the mirror. They keep shaking their heads.”

“I could look at her across the park and know where she was,” Mrs Daniels added. “Now I can’t find her as easily.”

Both girls had their hair cut at Ricci’s on Route 25 in Newtown. By coincidence the same hairdresser, Jen Duda, did the cutting.

Brittany says she would like to grow her hair long again so she would be able to donate it again. Taylor admits she is not sure what the future holds for her hair.

“There are so many kids and older people who have long hair and can donate,” Mrs Daniels said.

A third Newtown seven-year-old also had the courage to cut her hair on Friday at the Sandy Hook Barber Shop. Shannon Panasiuk attends Head O’ Meadow School. Her mother, Nancy, saw a Wigs for Kids article in McCalls Magazine just before Christmas and suggested to her daughter that she might like to donate her hair over the summer. But Shannon decided she wanted to do it now.

“Because kids have cancer and probably get picked on,” Shannon said. “And some little kid in another state could be wearing my hair.”

Nathalie Lariviere cut Shannon’s hair on Friday. She was impressed by Shannon’s gesture.

“I’m very proud of you. This is a very big thing,” Ms Lariviere said. “I think this is absolutely remarkable.”

Ms Lariviere took out the ruler to measure Shannon’s hair to cut 11 inches off. Shannon sat in the chair looking unnerved as the first cut was made.

Mrs Panasiuk was a bit nervous for her daughter. But when it was all done, Mrs Panasiuk liked the new look.

“I love it,” she said. “You look so much older.”

All three girls are donating their hair to Wigs for Kids. The requirements for sending hair are: the hair must be clean and dry, cut at a local salon, best if hair is in braid or pony tail placed in plastic bag, and a minimum of ten inches must be included. The hair should be sent to Wigs for Kids, 21330 Center Ridge Road, Rocky River, OH 44116.

For more information, call 440/333-4433, e-mail info@wigsforkids.org, or visit the Web site at www.wigsforkids.org.