Hair Today Now Gone for Good Cause
SPECIAL FOR THE AJT//
Mitchell Marks, 11 and in the sixth grade at the Epstein School, earlier this year donated his hair to the Pantene Beautiful Lengths program, which makes wigs for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. He was personally inspired by his mother. Here are two letters, one from Mitchell, the second from his mother, detailing their thoughts about the program.
The day my mom told us she had breast cancer was a big day. My brother and sisters cried, but I stayed strong. That was when I decided to grow my hair. I wanted my mom to make a wig out of my hair.
It took a year for my hair to grow. I had to grow my hair nine inches long, and by the time I grew out my hair, my mom’s hair was back. I decided to continue to grow my hair for someone else. It was a tough year because some people confused me for a girl.
Finally, it happened. I got to cut my hair. As you can see, I grew my hair out for a donation because I love my mom.
Mitchell Marks
I was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2011. I underwent a double mastectomy and chemotherapy.
[Throughout], my children were so supportive of me and my moods and needs. Mitchell watched me lose my hair and decided that he wanted me wear a wig made of his hair.
He did not realize it would take a year to grow his hair the length necessary for this to happen. When my hair started to grow back in, he still wanted to donate his hair to someone in need. This was a very hard task for an 11-year-old boy to accomplish. Towards the end, people referred to him as a girl, and he could no longer wait to cut his hair.
I am especially honored that he would continue to grow his hair out for me in my name.
Lisa Marks
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