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Akron woman plays it forward and donates 16-inch ponytail that will be used in hairpiece
By Jewell Cardwell
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Saturday, Oct 31, 2009
Young and old alike all have the ability to improve the world.
And it's not always about money.
Folks who regularly donate blood are saving lives.
Those like Joseph McCorvey, who plants gardens to donate the harvest to the needy, are certainly doing their part.
The Masons do that annually with hundreds of holiday food baskets distributed to the area's needy. Our Lady of the Elms elementary and high schools raised more than $17,000 with their ''Pennies for Peace'' campaign to help build a girls' school in Pakistan.
Those who have made a mercy mission to help in the rebuilding of areas devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita have done their part. Others clean snow from an elderly couple's driveway to ensure their safety, or read to the blind.
The message is that we can all do something.
Akron's Barbara Hampton, who was looking for ways to pay it forward, settled on something that was both
meaningful and easy to do.
Hampton had grown her dark brown hair to an incredible length, and had a 16-inch ponytail cut off to be fashioned into a hairpiece for a woman who is suffering medical hair loss but can't afford the purchase.
MC Hair Consultants in Cuyahoga Falls rolled out the red carpet for Hampton and then didn't charge her.
After hearing her story, they were moved as I was to help her achieve her goal.
''Breast cancer is rampant in my family,'' Hampton said. ''My mom was the first.
''Both of my sisters are survivors and so are many female cousins. . . . Out of about 20 cousins, there is only me and one other cousin who didn't/doesn't have it.''
To make a difference in the life or lives of other cancer survivors, the 55-year-old Hampton put her long, dark hair (never colored or permed) in the capable hands of MC Hair Consultants' Hayley Smith, who cut 16 inches off to donate to Pantene Beautiful Lengths to be fashioned into wigs.
Smith also gave Hampton a new hairstyle in the process: a layered, shoulder-length do with side-swept bangs.
''I couldn't be happier!'' Hampton said.
Bouquets to Bob's Bikes
Beautiful bouquets to Bob Obendorf of Cuyahoga Falls for his continued good works with the Bob's Bikes program.
I was reminded twice recently about the 83-year-old's transportation blessings to others — adults and children as well.
The first time was a call from Jennifer Evans, nurse/office manager at the Falls Foot & Ankle Clinic, who phoned to tell me about a 67-year-old male patient who was unable to make an appointment ''because someone had stolen his bike.''
After hearing about the man's plight, Obendorf — with the help of the used bicycle program, now operated by Gary Reynolds and his auto mechanic students at Hudson High School and housed at Sill Middle School in Cuyahoga Falls — replaced the man's bike, much to the delight of both.
Obendorf and his wife, Pat, started Bob's Bikes — the subject of NBC Nightly News' Making a Difference segment earlier in the week — nearly 30 years ago. ''We would buy used bikes in need of repairs at yard and garage sales, do the repairs and turn them over to Good Neighbors at a Baptist church on Munroe Falls Avenue,'' Obendorf said.
The program, supported by Hudson Rotary, has provided more than 125 bikes.
Benefit for Stefanek
A Night at the Races benefit is planned for 7:30 p.m. (doors open at 6:30) Friday at the Silver Springs Lodge in Stow, to help Denny Stefanek pay for the anti-rejection medication he'll need after his upcoming kidney transplant.
''In 1989, Denny was diagnosed with cancer, which had spread throughout his chest cavity and lymph nodes,'' writes his daughter, Michelle Damschroder.
''Aggressive chemotherapy treatments saved his life. Doctors advised at the time that the same chemo that saved his life would eventually lead to complications with his kidneys. Over the last 20 years, Denny's kidney function has slowly deteriorated and he is currently in kidney failure. Plans are for a kidney transplant at the Cleveland Clinic in the fall.
''Denny has been married to his high school sweetheart, Marge, for 45 years. They have resided in Stow since 1985.'' He is the father of three and grandfather of five.
''Denny retired in 1999 from USF Holland after a 36-year career as a truck driver and member of Teamsters Local No. 407. Since his retirement, he has been a school bus driver for the Stow-Munroe Falls City School District. . . . He also is an active member of Holy Family Catholic Church, where he is an usher and eucharistic minister.''
A Denny Stefanek Benefit Fund has been established at US Bank.
For tickets at $25 (including dinner, beverage and dessert), call 330-686-2919.
Jewell Cardwell can be reached at 330-996-3567 or jcardwell@thebeaconjournal.com.
Young and old alike all have the ability to improve the world.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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canton, oh
Posted 06:52 AM, 10/31/2009
What a simple and life changing gift to donate your hair. Barbara you look so much younger and *lighter* with your new do! Enjoy it!
Posted 08:11 AM, 10/31/2009
I just had mine cut recently too. Haven't found out where to send it though. Mine has some grey in it too so can't send to the Kid's Cancer wig place. I have always wanted to donate and finally got it long enough. I wish cut-a-thons were published for the area so others could donate too. It would be nice if it became a regular thing for salons to do; mine didn't know where to send the hair either.
Norton, OH
Posted 11:19 AM, 10/31/2009
Prevention is Godly not glamour, same with Evangelism and Hollywood actors. The Mason’s is a male dominate organization with no females.
The “Illuminati” (especially the Balkan-Illuminati) welcomes females into their fold. Both the Masons and the Illuminati have been in existence for thousands of years, recognizing both is clearly in Old Testament Bible Scriptures.
My friend is a Buddhist from China. From him I learned theirs is oldest spoken language on Planet Earth by 10,000 Years--written 5,000 yrs. Armies of Genghis Khan infiltrated as far North as Russian and Eastward to the Alps intermarrying bringing new life to the world.
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://i1.trekearth.com/photos/3403/pict0142.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Asia/Mongolia/West/Bulgan/photo184865.htm&usg=__zdBG-xirLx2JXmwSbDaitCj85a4=&h=800&w=600&sz=134&hl=en&start=9&sig2=hKLo7mnAwi0C1R0dFvdTcA&tbnid=Pv7mLTW3-osW7M:&tbnh=143&tbnw=107&prev=/images%3Fq%3DGhengis%2BKhan%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX&ei=QVHsSuHfIMbDlAf0nJCABQ
The “Mason’s”, cannot claim this legacy as they began with the Egyptians and the pyramids. The devil lives within, this I know from via their behavior, secrecy, and lies.
“Vatican City” is over 2,000 old with its first Pope, "Peter", follower of Jesus.
Art work, sculptures, buildings, and behaviors represent God's creation.
The four things God gave human kind is--"Earth, Wind, Fire, and Water--not glamour".
Should I lose my hair to chemo-I think I would concentrate my efforts on prevention and a clean earth. Respecting Gods gifts makes more sense to me. Would I accept a gift for my child? I belief “Abraham”, the father of all religions, Jews, Muslim, and Christian, would say "God will judge, not I.
Posted 11:28 AM, 10/31/2009
World of Wigs takes salt n pepper and gray locks. There are places that will separate the gray hair out. It just can not have been treated in any way. My brother gave 10 inches of hair, as he said, because he could!
Tallmadge, Oh
Posted 11:57 AM, 10/31/2009
@Zhellon
Geez, this is an article about people helping people, not a politcal platform for a dumb lecture. Lighten up for God's sake!
Norton, OH
Posted 05:39 PM, 10/31/2009
Sally that is not worth the time or a God given talent for a journalist to spending on a laissez-fair approach to a serious issues.
Athens, Oh
Posted 06:24 PM, 10/31/2009
Pessimistic outlook much?
hazzard, nc
Posted 01:19 AM, 11/01/2009
is the grease extra????
Posted 08:17 AM, 11/01/2009
Um, I am not a journalist, and this is a very serious issue. Perhaps you have mistaken me for someone else. I am sorry if it came across as rude, my point is that if you can grow hair and give it away, it is simple, it is kind, and it works. Even if it does have gray hair in it. Sally
Zhellon
Norton, OH
Posted 05:39 PM, 10/31/2009 Sally that is not worth the time or a God given talent for a journalist to spending on a laissez-fair approach to a serious issues
Posted 09:55 AM, 11/13/2009
Thanks for the info Sally I'll check it out.
