LANSING, Mich. (WILX) – Haircuts and styling are free at the University of Michigan Health Sparrow’s Hair-A-Thon, but what’s even more rewarding is the opportunity to donate hair to someone who’s lost it due to cancer treatment.
“It’s really special. It’s so wonderful to see people willing to donate their hair for kids who don’t have hair,” said 10-year-old Mary Jane Seelhoff.
Mary Jane knows what it’s like to be one of those kids who needs new hair: She’s been battling leukemia since 2017 and was being treated by the UM Health Sparrow team at Herbert Hermann Cancer Center in Lansing.
It has not been an easy journey.
“I hate having the port in, so it’s hard sometimes,” she said, pointing to a small red mark on her chest, “Look, there’s my scar.”
Mary Jane continued the fight and is now doing her part to give back to kids just like her. On Saturday, the Hair-A-Thon celebrated its 10th anniversary of collecting hair donations, and Mary Jane was welcomed back as a guest stylist.
“It was really fun,” she told News 10. “Plus, I really love cutting people’s hair.”
Right beside Mary Jane is her grandmother, Linda Solis, who has watched her granddaughter overcome unimaginable challenges and find ways to maintain her cheerful and positive personality.
Solis said this is Mary Jane’s second time serving as a guest stylist for the Hair-A-Thon.
“My daughter feels more worthy,” she said. “She has more to give. She takes pride in herself.”
Each time a donation is made, the people who donated their hair ring a gong to let everyone in the room know that the next wig is due to arrive.
That gong rang many times Saturday, reminding pediatric oncology nurse Cindy Metier of the sacrifices hair donors make.
“We understand that donating hair is a very personal gift and it can literally take years for your hair to grow long enough to be donated,” she said, “so we take that responsibility very seriously.”
Metier said she plans to give the hair donations she collected that afternoon to Michigan-based organizations Maggie’s Wigs for Kids Michigan and Children with Hair Loss, which will distribute wigs to children in need at no cost to their families.
“That’s really nice,” said Mary Jane. “Thank you for doing that for the kids who don’t have hair. That’s so nice.”
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