Morley Stanwood teacher donates locks to hair loss nonprofit - The Pioneer

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MORLEY – Hair is a staple of one’s personality, and sacrificing your locks to a good cause can be a memorable and impactful act.

This week, one Morley Stanwood Elementary teacher took the leap and donated her hair in honor of children facing hair loss.

Sarah Benson, a third-grade teacher at Morley Stanwood Elementary School, donated her hair to Children With Hair Loss, a Michigan-based nonprofit organization. She chose to cut her hair in front of her third-grade students and her two sons so that they could be a part of her charitable giving event.

Children With Hair Loss is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that provides human hair replacements at no cost to children and young adults facing medically related hair loss. The organization aids children who face hair is loss due to cancer treatments, alopecia, trichotillomania, burns or other causes.

Benson’s hairdresser was Danielle Doerr, owner of Knot Just Hair salon in Mecosta County. Doerr agreed to come into the classroom so that students could be a part of the donation process.

Benson said the experience was a beneficial one not only for the students to learn about acts of kindness but also for her to make a difference.

“I liked involving the students for many reasons and I chose to donate to Children With Hair Loss because they provide wigs to children free of charge and they are a Michigan-based nonprofit,” Benson said. “It helped the students see another way of being able to give to others. Many students are familiar with donating money or doing food drives, but this may inspire them to grow their hair and help other children who need a wig because of cancer treatment, alopecia, or burns.”

The nonprofit Benson chose requires at least eight inches of hair, however, Benson chose to donate 10 inches.

Children With Hair Loss opened in 2000 and was founded by Regina Villemure, a former cosmetology instructor, hairstylist, and hair replacement specialist with a master's certification with the American Hair Loss Council. Villemure founded the nonprofit after her niece, Sarah, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at age three.

Benson said the haircut was a bonding experience between her and her students and that she got a lot of positive feedback.

“Now I can sneak in math story problems about hair length and the students have a personal connection to it,” Benson said. “It's also a great bonding experience at the beginning of the year to have them join me for a monumental haircut. Some of the students said they liked my hair longer, but most of them were very excited to see it being cut.”

For more information on Children With Hair Loss and their work, visit the organization's website at www.childrenwithhairloss.us.

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