When Susan Osborne decided to be the chairperson of the 2006 American Cancer Society’s Barons’ Ball, she had no idea that her daughter Carissa would take the cause to heart as well. To demonstrate her care and concern for children with cancer, Carissa Osborne made a very significant donation to the cancer cause by donating 12 inches of her long, blond hair to Locks of Love. 

A sixth grader at St. Paul Lutheran School, Carissa decided to participate in the Locks of Love donation program about a year ago, back when her mom was just a loyal volunteer and donor for the Barons’ Ball.  Carissa had been thinking about donating her hair since she was in the fourth grade and her teacher, Mrs. Kuhl, was diagnosed with cancer and lost her hair during treatment.

Carissa admitted her nervousness before the donation, and confessed a little sadness when the cutting was done. Now Carissa is enjoying her new hairdo and has been styling it in some new ways. At Fantastic Sams, haircuts are free when the hair is donated to Locks of Love and they even take care of sending in the donated hair for the donor. Carissa Osborne’s hair was cut by Lashanda Gates at the Fantastic Sams located on Ga. Highway 74 in Peachtree City.

Locks of Love is a non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children 18 years or younger, in the U.S. and Canada suffering from long term medical hair loss. The prosthesis of hair helps to restore self esteem and confidence and enables children without hair to face the world and their peers. To find out more about Locks of Love, or to make your own hair or financial donation, check out their Web site at www.locksoflove.org or write Locks of Love at 2925 10th Avenue North, Suite 102, Lake Worth, Florida 33461. 

If you would like to volunteer to work with Susan Osborne and the rest of the 2006 Barons’ Ball organizing committee on the 2006 Barons’ Ball or become a sponsor of the event, please contact Nychelle Williams, senior community manager at 770-460-8920.