No age boundaries

A 9-year-old Maryville girl and an Alterra House resident celebrating her 100th birthday both recently gave of themselves to
help children with cancer.

Hannah Lovin of Foxdale Drive, Maryville, gave her own curly locks for the Locks of Love program. Frances Grey, 100, of Alterra Sterling House, had her gray hair cut and donated it for Locks of Love to sell.

Locks of Love uses donated hair to create wigs for children who have lost their own hair because of the effects of cancer treatments. Since they do not make children’s wigs in gray, donated gray hair is sold to help fund the program.

The hair must be at least 10 inches long and in a pony tail, explained Hannah’s mother, Charae Lovin.

"(Hannah) had two pony tails. One was 13 inches and one 10 inches," Charae said. "Jessica Thompson at Total Image Day Spa cut it."

Hannah, a third grader at John Sevier Elementary School, said she didn’t know about Locks of Love until her grandmother told her. It wasn’t easy having long hair in the summer, she said.

Hannah’s grandmother, Susan Raulston, remembered the conversation. "I said, ‘Let’s wait until it’s long enough to cut for Locks of Love," Raulston said. "I guess it took a year. During the summer you have to wear it in a pony tail. She endured, and she did it."

Charae Lovin said that she told her daughter she could grow out her hair, but only if she took care of it. A week before she had her hair cut, Hannah was ready for short hair.

"The week I made the appointment she said, ‘Is it long enough yet? I can’t stand this!"

Charae Lovin was very proud of her daughter. "We’re very proud of her. To only be 9 years old and to understand. . . I work with cancer patients," Charae said as she choked back tears. "For her to be a child and be that in tune with other people’s needs, we’re very proud of her."

Frances Grey had her hair cut at Alterra Sterling House and said it was just something she has done for several years and wanted to do again. Her birthday was Jan. 29.

For more information on Locks of Love, visit www.locksoflove.org.