Saint Francis University Donates 350 Inches of Hair
To Locks of Love Organization
LORETTO, Pa. (Jan. 15, 2007) – Forty-five Saint Francis University student-athletes and staff members collected and donated over 350 inches of hair to the Locks of Love Organization, which was collected during halftime of the Red Flash women’s basketball game against Loyola (Md.).
Locks of Love is a non-profit organization that specializes in making wigs for children who suffer from an auto-immune disease called Alopecia Areata, which has no known cause or cure. Other recipients of the wigs are cancer survivors and victims of trauma, such as burns and rare dermatological conditions that result in permanent hair loss.
Organized by the Saint Francis field hockey team, and head coach Liz deSimas, the event was initially projected to draw 21 participants, but ended with 45 women donating more than 350 inches of hair.
“I would like to thank the Saint Francis University female students, as well as the community for contributing to this event,” said deSimas. “In addition, we had a great response from all of our female student-athletes.”
Members of the Red Flash women’s cross country, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis and volleyball teams all donated hair to the Locks of Love Organization.
“The female student body at Saint Francis really showed that they are committed to the Franciscan goals of higher education by giving their time and hair,” deSimas said. “I would also like to thank the Altoona Beauty School, field hockey assistant coach Katina Polites, Director of External Affairs for Athletics Jim Brazill, and head women’s basketball coach Jill Poe for helping to make this event possible.”
Saint Francis is planning another hair collection effort in April