Smattering of hair, scattering of hope.

Leroy Puckett

13 August 2008

As a cancer survivor, Welch knows the emotional tramua of losing her very own hair. So it seemed to be a no brainer when she made a decision to give her very own re-grown hair for other cancer patients as a part of the Pantene handsome lengths campaign. On Tues. she and daughter-in-law Lisa Austin donated their hair to the same cause. A way to Take part Girls of all races and hair colors are inspired to give their locks, so long as the hair meets certain needs.

It has to be at least eight inches long ( measure hair from just above the elastic band of the ponytail to the ends ). It should be freshly washed and totally dry, without any styling products. It could be colored with plant dyes, washs and semi-permanent dyes. It will not be bleached, permanently colored or chemically treated.

Connie Austin-Welch may have sat this one out. But the way she sees it, cancers not taking a breather and neither is she able to. For the 2nd time in 2 years, the West Columbia lady took part Tues. in a program meant to offer hope to girls battling the illness. 2 years back, she had shed her locks as a cancer survivor. This time, it was as a cancer patient again. This is merely a tiny thing that I could do for others, Austin-Welch recounted. If you are going thru ( hair loss ) for the 1st time, it can be dire. The effort provides hair for girls who have lost their own after cancer treatment. She originally was identified with breast cancer in spring 2002 during a mammogram. It was her 2nd time around with the illness, having overcome uterine cancer in 1985. Because her current course of treatment is changed, Austin-Welch didnt lose her hair on this occassion. She could be a South Carolina envoy for Pantene and The Yank Cancer Society. Her goal, she claimed, isnt to bring attention to herself, but to affect more ladies to give. That contained some scholars and teachers at Pelion primary school, where Austin-Welch had worked. I suspect its just that compassion for others, Austin-Welch related of the outpouring of support. Jessica Crawford, a stylist at New angles, related many girls have come to the salon to give their hair, adding that others not originally mindful of the program had been ardent to become involved after they found out. Since the Handsome Lengths campaign commenced in summer 2006, more than 80000 ponytails have been donated. It takes 6 ponytails to make one wig.