Gettysburg 'haircut-a-thon' will honor victims of breast cancer
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and two local organizations are stepping up to support victims of the disease.
Battlefield Harley-Davidson of Gettysburg and Tangled, Teased & Tamed hair salon of Hanover will host a "haircut-a-thon" this Saturday, Oct. 29 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Battlefield Harley-Davidson.
Donors' hair will be cut by Cati Manzo from the Hanover-based salon and donated to Pantene's Beautiful Lengths campaign, an effort that has contributed 42,000 real-hair wigs to the American Cancer Society Wig Bank, according to Pantene's website.
The topic of cancer "hits home" for Manzo, she said, as both her mother and grandmother have battled the disease.
People of all ages and genders are encouraged to donate their hair this weekend, said Meredith Catchings, the events coordinator at Battlefield Harley-Davidson.
The store's parts manager, Randy Oyler, will even be donating his own ponytail this weekend, and Catchings said, it's a long one!
Oyler's ponytail -- all 13 inches of it -- will be snipped off this Saturday and donated.
The subject of breast cancer awareness hits close to home for the staff of Battlefield Harley-Davidson as well. The store's previous owner, Jennifer LeVan, passed away last Valentine's Day after a long battle with the disease.
This event is just one way the Harley-Davidson employees feel like they can give back to those going through the same thing as LeVan, Catchings said.
Hair loss is a side effect of certain cancer treatments, the American Cancer Society said on their site. And for some men and women, losing their hair can be both physically and emotionally painful.
A bald scalp can leave patients' skin feeling sensitive. A wig can help curb some of the negative physical side effects; it can also allow patients to feel like themselves again, Pantene said on their site.
If you would like to donate:
- You must have a minimum ponytail length of 8 inches
- You must bring a $20 donation, which includes your cut and style (all proceeds will benefit the cause)
- Your hair cannot be processed and/or more than 5 percent gray
When: Saturday, Oct. 29 from 1 to 3 p.m.
Where: Battlefield Harley-Davidson, 21 Cavalry Field Road, Gettysburg