If all goes according to plan, the Town of Vienna will look like a hippie commune next fall.
A group of citizens has organized a hair-growing challenge for Locks of Love, a group that collects hair to be woven into wigs for children with diseases that cause hair loss. "I have a lot of friends who have cancer, and I thought if I was going to grow my hair long, I might as well donate it," said Kathy Cutri, a Vienna resident who works at Louise Archer Elementary.
Cutri and the others participating in the challenge are asking Vienna residents to grow their hair out for the next few months and plan a mass hair cutting Sept. 26, at I-Catcher salon at 139 Park St. S.E.
Locks of Love collects hair at least 10 inches in length, and while it can be dyed, it cannot be chemically damaged. The organization also does not typically collect gray hair, since most of the wigs are donated to young girls.
The hair-growing challenge kicked off Feb. 8, when Al Garlock had 10 inches of his hair cut off. "I decided to do this two years ago," said Garlock, park superintendent for the Town of Vienna.
GARLOCK LOOKED like he had another 10 inches he could have donated on Feb. 8, but he plans to hold out and have another trim in September during the event.
Charlene Forges, owner of the salon, plans to offer free haircuts to anyone who is making a donation to Locks of Love on that day. "We'll start at 10 [a.m.], and I'll stay until we're done," she said.
Forges encourages anyone interested in the program to make an appointment, adding that the salon is currently booking appointments for it.
Residents who wish to make an appointment should call the salon at 703-281-7373. For more information about the hair drive, contact Virginia Palmore at 703-255-6396. For more information about Locks of Love, visit www.locksoflove.org.