Cutting off their hair was another way for many students at Saturday’s Relay For Life event to help patients fighting cancer.
The design team from Paul Mitchell The School Sherman Oaks provided $10 haircuts for donation to the American Cancer Society, a nonprofit organization that aims to eliminate cancer.
The team has been providing haircuts at the event for at least three years, said Heidi Lowry, learning leader at Paul Mitchell The School Sherman Oaks.
Many participants of the hair donation had already knew about the team’s service.
Diane Villaroman, a second-year neuroscience student, said she decided to donate her hair when she first heard about the haircut service.
She said she decided to cut 8 inches to help other girls who lost their hair as a side effect of cancer.
“I (wanted) to let them know that they are not alone,” Villaroman said.
Ana Zepeda a second-year psychology student, also donated 8 inches of hair.
“I hope that whoever gets my wig finds motivation in fighting back (cancer),” Zepeda said.
She said she lost her uncle from colon cancer a week ago, and other members of her team, “We Can, We Will, We Must,” have lost their families previously from cancer as well.
While many hair donors had planned to get a haircut at Relay For Life, Josephine Ochoa, 15, she made a last minute decision to cut 9 inches of her hair after walking into the temporary salon.
Ochoa said her friend lost her hair while recovering from a car accident that occurred about three years ago.
She said she decided to donate her hair because she saw how encouraged her friend was after receiving a wig.
The design team plans to stay and provide haircuts until the end of the event.