Hussar donates hair to Locks of Love

Times Contributor

 

Katelyn Sandum from Duck Lake, Alberta, decided that she wanted to help kids with cancer by donating her long, blonde locks to the Locks of Love program.

Locks of Love is a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada under age 21 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis. They meet 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 a medical condition called alopecia areata, which has no known cause or cure. The prostheses provided will help to restore their self-esteem and their confidence, enabling them to face the world and their peers.

A small gathering of friends and family assembled at the Hussar Arena on Friday evening to help cheer on six participants shave and cut their hair. Michelle Hager (one of the organizers), who had her head shaved, was convinced that she needed to “do something.” Her Aunt was in her second round of cancer treatments and had lost her hair in the last round. Hager woke up Easter morning and decided that “my decision was made and now the raising of funds and promoting the cause began.” 

Her Dad, Jurgen Schempp, nine-year-old son Colby Schempp, seven-year-old nephew Cadin Schempp and good friend Kim Larsen joined Hager in her head-shaving quest. Katelyn was the only participant who donated her hair.

Mom Tara Sandum, swelling with pride and emotion, said that she is “overwhelmingly proud of what a little girl could selflessly do for someone else.” 

Sandum said that Katelyn was doing it in honor of her friend Leeza Neilsen from the community of Hussar who has been battling with cancer for a number of years. Leeza will be doing the honorary lap in the Relay for Life in Drumheller later in the month.