Locks of Love helps kids' love for locks

Olivia Idrissi, 12, donates her hair to Locks of Love which makes wigs for those who need them. WOODBRIDGE - The large brown curls kept falling off 6-year-old Olivia Idrissi's head as she sat patiently waiting, until 12 inches had been cut, leaving her with a bouncy bob.

"I didn't want to cut my hair at first," Olivia said with a shy smile.

But after Olivia's mother, Kathy, told her daughter about the public nonprofit Locks of Love organization, Olivia did not hesitate to have her long locks cut, even though at one time they came down to the small of her back.

The kindergarten graduate was one of many who had their hair cut as part of the Locks of Love organization when they participated in a cut-a-thon held at various hair salons throughout the township in May.

The hair salons received a proclamation for their efforts from the township on June 17.

Olivia had her hair cut at the Vito Mazza Salon Spa and Hair Restoration for Locks of Love, which was also a special fundraiser in memory of Faye Hecht, wife of a local Woodbridge police officer, who passed away from a stroke and is survived by two young sons, and in support of Kelly Mahon, a Woodbridge High School senior who is in a long-term rehabilitation facility because of a traumatic brain injury.

Kathy Idrissi said the subject of cutting Olivia's hair became a topic of discussion when it became more and more difficult to comb and wash her daughter's hair.

"I developed carpal tunnel syndrome when I was pregnant with my other daughter, Nora [9 months]," said Kathy. "Our friend's daughter came to visit from Colorado, and she had participated in St. Baldrick's and told Olivia about the fundraiser."

St. Baldrick's is a volunteer-driven event for childhood cancer research, where participants shave their heads.

"Olivia wanted to participate in St. Baldrick's, which was held in Woodbridge in April, but then we heard about Locks of Love and it all fell in place," said Kathy. "The new hair is great - she can shower by herself."

Joe Idrissi, Olivia's father, said he is proud of his daughter.

"I'm so proud that she took a part to help kids that are not so fortunate," he said.

Olivia said she plans to grow her hair out and participate in the Locks of Love organization again.

According to the Locks of Love Web site, the organization provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada under age 18 who have long-term medical hair loss that is the result of any medical condition. The organization meets a unique need for children by using donated hair to create the highest-quality hair prosthetics.

Most of the children helped by Locks of Love have lost their hair due to either a medical condition called alopecia areata, which has no known cause or cure, or cancer.

Locks of Love's mission is to return a sense of self-confidence and normalcy to these children by donating ponytails to create the highest-quality hair prosthetics for them.

In 1997, Madonna Coffman, a retired cardiac nurse, spearheaded the organization after her 4-year-old daughter developed alopecia and lost all of her hair. When Coffman was in her 20s, she developed alopecia after receiving a hepatitis vaccination. She said it was difficult to deal with her own hair loss, but her daughter's loss was "10 times harder" to deal with.

The number of hairpieces provided has increased significantly since Locks of Love was founded. To date, over 2,000 children have been helped through the organization's efforts.