Hair's to helping others

By TIMES STAFF
Published April 6, 2007

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Fourth-grader Celeste Schettino peered out at her mother as a stylist trimmed the wisps framing her face. Like many of her friends at Roosevelt Elementary School, Celeste read the book Because of Anya, a story of a girl with a disease that prevented her hair from growing. Sixty-nine students, parents and faculty members donated ponytails last week to Locks of Love.

Here's what the newly shorn had to say:

Sophia Barbas, 7, donated 3 inches. "It feels good for people to be wearing your hair."

Lily Frost, 9, donated 6 inches. "It feels fresh. I know their hair will never grow back. Ours will."

Gina Piccolo, 11, donated 10 inches. "Every time I reach back to make a ponytail, it just feels different. But I'm glad I did it. I'm so happy."

Savanah Lowry, 7, donated 10 inches. "I feel good because I'm helping somebody."

Olivia Frost, 11, donated 6 inches. "If I had cancer and someone gave their hair to me I would be so happy."

Tatiana Fabian, 10, donated 10 inches. "It feels really good because people are going to have your hair."

Maren Scharf, 7, donated 10 inches. "It's going to make other people feel comfortable going out and playing with others."

Kyndall McCain, 11, donated 6 inches. "It feels much lighter and I feel good."

Hannah Keen, 11, donated 11 inches. "This is my first real haircut. It feels weird because I'm used to having my hair real long, but it's good."

Caroline Jones, 11, donated 6 inches. "One of my mom's friends has cancer. I feel like I'm sort of helping her and everybody else."