Girl's summer hairdo to be courtesy of Locks of Love
Jordan Wingate is willing to give anything she has to benefit the American Cancer Society and needy children.
Jordan Wingate, 7, of Harlem, will have her hair cut to donate to Locks of Love and will be collecting donations for the American Cancer Society at the Harlem Relay for Life at Harlem Middle School. It will be the second time she has donated her hair.
Photo by Valerie Rowell
At only 7 years old, her hair is all she has to give. She wants to donate it to Locks of Love, a nonprofit organization that provides hairpieces to disadvantaged children with medical hair loss.
The North Harlem Elemen- tary first-grader is planning to cut about a foot off the hair that falls nearly to her waist to raise funds for the Crusaders, the Harlem Relay for Life team made up of her mother, Valarie; her 5-year-old sister, Samantha; and members of the Harlem United Methodist Church.
"She's not nervous about cutting her hair," Jordan's mother said, adding that both of them cut and donated their hair to Locks of Love two years ago when Jordan was 5.
"It grows fast," said Jordan, who is ready for her short and sporty summer hairdo.
Jordan held her hand just below her ears to show how short her brunette hair will be when it is cut in the middle of the football field during the Harlem event, scheduled for Friday and Saturday at Harlem Middle School.
According to Locks of Love, more than 80 percent of donated hair comes from children.
Jordan knows what will happen to her hair.
"(They will) make a wig," she said.
Jordan said she has been trying to convince other ladies to cut and donate their hair. But for those who can't or won't, Jordan will have a big jar she hopes they will fill up.
"(I hope) they give a dollar to our group," Jordan said.
Wingate said her daughter, who has helped with most of the relay team's fund-raisers such as bingo, a car wash and a pancake breakfast, wanted to do something on her own to help.
By early April, the team had raised about $2,000.