I had the absolute honor and privilege of being able to attend a fundraising charity ball for this amazing organization. The organization Children With Hair Loss started in 2000 after its founder and my friend, Regina Villemure saw her young niece going through treatment for leukemia for about five years. She saw her struggle with hair loss from chemo and saw her and her family struggle with how and where to find wigs that actually fit her that were affordable and comfortable. She saw that there were no such options that weren’t either very expensive, or provided low quality, second-hand, ill-fitting wigs at best.
Regina then took that personal experience and turned it into a lifelong mission to provide hair replacement for children at no cost. Intense fundraising ensued and she was able to purchase a building in 2005. The current headquarters are in South Rockwood, Michigan.
Initially, influence by her own experience with a family member, Regina focused on only children with hair loss due to cancer. This was tremendous in and of itself. But, the story expands further. Regina quickly realized that there are many other causes of hair loss in children. There is alopecia, trichotillomania, burns, and other rare autoimmune disorders that also cause hair loss. There are many many children out there with hair loss.
Nowadays, over twenty years later, this organization has grown to national level and children all over the country can have access to their fee free wigs. Each child is specially measured and special molds created and get modified as they age to continue to provide their free hair replacements. Now there are special additional fundraising charity balls yearly to accumulate even more fundraising to help even more children.
I had the privilege of attending one of these balls just last night. It was truly an extraordinary event. I was able to see firsthand the sheer satisfaction, joy, and confidence that these young clients had with their beautiful hair replacements. They even participated in a fashion show and had a whole weekend of events planned especially for them leading up to the ball itself. It was truly a heart-felt, compassionate, proud, celebration of these children. I felt honored just to be there. I saw firsthand how happy the children were and even the ones that are now adults that are still active with this organization. This folks, is a true example of all things good in a non-profit organization. It is an example that we all should live by and contribute generously to. On that not, I am going to include a link so that you may donate to this wonderful organization.
In order to help or donate either financially or by donating your hair, please click on the following link
Donate