Dozens of girls left West Jordan High School Friday afternoon with much less hair than they had going in that morning.

It was a school-wide effort to donate hair to Locks of Love, but what makes their project especially remarkable is the sheer number of girls who decided to participate. Fifty girls each chopped ten inches of hair or more.

"As women we know how important hair is," said Tamara Hamblin. "It's kind of our identity and it's nice to be able to give somebody back their identity."

This hair will be used to make wigs for little boys and girls who lose their hair due to cancer treatment or other illness.

"I wanted to do something good around Christmas," said Jennifer Bybee. "I mean, it's a good thing to do. I just hope someone else enjoys my hair. I liked it but I figured it could go for a better cause."

Jennifer's mom, Lori, is proud of her daughter's sacrifice. With senior proms and senior pictures still ahead of these girls, she knows how tough it was.

"She was nervous, looking at herself in the mirror thinking oh, my hair's gonna be this short," Bybee said.

But they got over the separation anxiety knowing there were fifty other girls doing the same thing. And now every time they look in the mirror, they'll think of the person they're helping.

It takes ten ponytails -- each ten inches in length -- to make one wig for a child.

Story by: Erika Edberg
erika@abc4.com

12/1/2006 9:04:35 PM