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Youngsters Shed Locks Out of Love

tribune photo by YVETTE HAMMETT

Tasha McNally of New Identities Salon cuts the hair of Tatiana Caballero, 10, at Kids Community College.

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By YVETTE C. HAMMETT

yhammett@tampatrib.com

Published: December 3, 2008

RIVERVIEW - The last time Abigail Pumphrey got a haircut, it was self-inflicted. She was 2. And while she was at it, she nearly scalped her younger sister, Alison, her mom Melody Pumphrey recalls.

This time, a professional took over the scissors, first placing 8-year-old Abigail's hair in a ponytail, then snipping it off.

Her ponytail and about a dozen others will make their way to Locks of Love, a nonprofit group that makes wigs for financially disadvantaged children 17 and younger who have lost their hair due to disease or medical treatment.

The big trim took place Nov. 25 at Kids Community College Charter School, where hundreds of youngsters watched and chanted as the brave took to the chairs, many relinquishing 10 inches of hair or more for what they believe to be a noble cause.

"I wanted to help those with cancer," said Tatiana Caballero, 10, who took the biggest cut of all. "I feel bad for them that they lost their hair and I know Locks of Love will take mine and turn it into a wig."

Tatiana and her friend, Jacquelyn Deaton, 9, came up with the scheme.

Jacquelyn's mom has a dear friend, Lisa Milne, who has breast cancer and wears a Locks of Love wig. She also found some incentive watching television.

"I was watching TV one day, and I saw a show with a pig in it, then I saw something about making wigs," Jacquelyn recalled. "I took a note pad and started writing down ideas."

And a fundraiser was born.

In addition to the haircuts, the school held a Kiss a Pig contest and a Dress Down day, raising $300 to send to Locks of Love. The students raised enough to save their teachers from having to kiss the pig but didn't spare the school's Committee for Academic Excellence.

One by one, each board member leaned down and gave Honeybell - a white pig with pink hooves - a big smacker.

Reporter Yvette C. Hammett can be reached at (813) 865-1566.

To view more photos, go to southshore@ tbo.com and search for "Charter School Locks of Love."

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