News, Community
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Going to Beautiful Lengths for Cancer Patients
By James Lomuscio
Westporter Ann Karrick is sending her hair to Beautiful Lengths. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo
Just for the record, Westporter Ann Karrick likes her long hair, those brown, wavy, bouncy locks that not only frame her face but flow down past her shoulders. In fact, she likes her hair so much she wants to share it—with a less-fortunate woman who has lost hers while undergoing chemotherapy. So today Karrick, media consultant and former host and producer of “For the Record,” a national weekly talk show on ION Media Networks, is scheduled to have her signature locks shorn at Westport’s Greg & Tony Salon, 231 Post Road West. She plans to have her hair donated to Beautiful Lengths, which makes wigs free of charge to cancer patients. “The reaction from others surprised me at first,” said Karrick. “Typically with long hair, when you mention cutting it, there are gasps of horror.
“In this case, I heard so many personal stories about people who had donated hair in honor or memory of someone with cancer,” she added. “The responses were very encouraging and inspiring.”
According to Karrick, 60 percent of women with cancer consider “hair loss the most dreaded side of chemotherapy,” so much so that 8 percent of them will forego treatment.
Also, those who lose hair due to treatment can find the price of wigs, as much as $1,200 and not covered by insurance, cost prohibitive, she said.
Beautiful Lengths and Locks of Love (makes wigs for children) are the two best-known programs for donating hair to make free-of-charge and low cost wigs for cancer patients.
Their programs stipulate that hair donations need to be wrapped in an elastic band and be between 8 to 10-inches long. While treated and colored hair is accepted, Karrick said, overly dry and damaged hair is not.
“I did want to cut off several inches, so it made sense to cut more than I wanted in order to put it to good use,” Karrick said. “It’s hair. It should grow back.”
Comments: Comment Policy
Congratulations Ann…
You are creating a powerful, meaningful, caring and most beautiful act of kindness.
The world would be an oh so much better place if we had more people like you.
way to go.
Check out before and after photos at http://www.AnnKarrick.com. It was great experience, thanks in part to everyone at Greg & Tony.
Ann Karrick
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Note: WestportNow Publisher Gordon F. Joseloff is also First Selectman of Westport