Every year, AHC gathers as a community to either watch or take part in a hair donation drive run by LOTAs for a Cure and Social Justice, benefiting children who have lost their hair due to treatments for various illnesses and cancers. Unfortunately, this year the hair drive had to be cancelled due to the outbreak of the coronavirus.

Students or faculty who donate must donate at least eight inches of hair for the drive, and the hair is cut by staff at Progressions Salon in Rockville. It is a sacrifice made for the good of those less fortunate losing their hair to treatments like chemotherapy.

President of LOTAs for a Cure, Eileen McConville, joined this cause because it is one that affects so many people and means a lot to her.

“This year, we expanded [the club’s focus] to all types of cancer rather than just breast cancer, and I know that almost everyone in this school has been touched by cancer one way or another, so I think it’s a really important cause,” shared McConville.

The hair drive in particular is something close to Co-Vice President Evie Barnes, as she has seen the effect of losing one’s hair due to illness.

“This cause is very meaningful to me because a family friend of mine was fifteen when she was diagnosed with an aggressive type of bone cancer and she lost all her hair because of chemo,” explained Barnes.

Barnes discussed the effect the hair drive has on young people who are suffering from hair loss. 

“At such young ages, kids, especially girls, are so self conscious about their body image and everything and how they look so losing your hair can be super devastating for a young kid,” shared Barnes.

The drive provides a free alternative to the very expensive, real-hair wigs that are normally the most high-quality type of wig for people suffering from hair loss. These wigs can be thousands of dollars and many people are not able to afford the cost of these nicer wigs. 

LOTAs for a Cure moderator Kellie Looney hopes to make a difference in the lives of those suffering from various cancers and ailments through the hair drive.

“We want to show that all of us are affected by someone in our lives having cancer or something that causes hair loss that they would need a wig for, and just make them feel better,” shared Looney. “It’s a big moment, getting a wig, and you don’t realize how big until it actually happens.”