60-Year-Old Locks of Love

Posted January 7, 2008, 4:22 pm in Other by Growing Bolder


Hair is a very personal, very important possession for most people, but it's also something many of us take for granted. When it disappears -- due to the natural process or sickness -- it takes a part of us with it. That's hard enough for adults, who have had years to figure out who they are. But what happens when you're just a child?

The not-for-profit organization Locks of Love gives free hairpieces to children who can't afford other hair prosthetics. Most of the children who receive the hair suffer from an auto-immune condition called alopecia areata. There's no known cure, and doctors don't know what causes it. But it leaves the children with no hair.

The gifts that Locks of Love provides are custom-fitted, made completely from human hair. But it takes volunteers willing to grow their own hair out, to make the program possible. One of those volunteers has a unique story of her involvement with Locks of Love.

Peggy Hartzog tells Growing Bolder that when she was growing up in North Carolina, she was known for her long, red hair. Her mother wouldn't let her cut it until she was older, so when it finally came time for the clippers -- the hair was down her back! She was 8 or 9 years old, and her mother held onto the red braid of hair, putting it in a box where it was forgotten for six decades.

Then one day, Peggy found the hair in the box, and realized she could donate it to Locks of Love, and help children in need. The organization told her that there was no age-limit for the hair, so she sent it in.

Peggy, a cancer survivor, didn't lose her hair during chemotherapy and other treatments. But she says having a serious health scare helped her realize how many people focus on their "wants" instead of their "needs." That's why she says she was so happy to help.

To learn more about Peggy's story, click the play button below the video on this page.

Did you know?

• Alopecia areata affects 1% "2% of the population, and occurs in both males and females
• Alopecia areata occurs in people who are apparently healthy and have no skin disorder
• Alopecia areata usually starts with one or more small, round, smooth bald patches on the scalp and can progress to total scalp hair loss (alopecia totalis) or complete body hair loss (alopecia universalis)
• Some scientists believe that some people are genetically predisposed to develop alopecia areata and that a trigger, such as a virus or something else in the environment, sets off the condition
• With alopecia areata, your hair generally grows back, but you may lose and regrow your hair a number of times

To donate to Locks of Love, hair must be at least 10 inches, bundled in a ponytail or braid, and free of bleach. It also must be clean and dry, and mailed in a plastic bag to:

Locks of Love
2925 10th Avenue N., Suite 102
Lake Worth, FL 33461-3099

For more information, visit the Locks of Love website.





© 2007-2008. Growing Bolder Media Group. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.