Cutting for cancer

Monday, July 25 — Cutting their way to cancer prevention and research, the stylists of Sera Bella Salon and members of the “Young and the Restless” Relay for Life team hosted the second “Cut-A-Thon” in Meridian Mall on Saturday.

Donating all the proceeds to the American Cancer Society, the event has raised about $700 so far, said Andrea Jadzinski, a hair stylist and assistant manager of Sera Bella Salon, 1982 W. Grand River Ave. in Okemos.

“We’ve always been interested in reaching out to the community and (client Crysta Heart) presented us with this opportunity and we were like, ‘Absolutely,’” she said.

The idea to cut hair as a fundraiser came to Heart from a former teammate and hair stylist who specializes in styling hair for people undergoing treatment, Heart said. The idea was brilliant, but finding a salon willing to donate their stylists, time and profits was the issue, Heart said.

“Everyone (at Sera Bella Salon) was so excited to participate,” Heart said. “No one was like, ‘Oh, we have to do this.’”

Although the number of participants was lower than anticipated, the event still meant a lot to team captain and cancer survivor Jen Young.

“When you go through treatment, you lose your hair (but) if you look good, you’re going to feel good,” she said. “A lot of people think it’s just about the funds for research but there is so much more.”

The American Cancer Society offers a free wig bank to patients going through chemotherapy. The “Look Good…Feel Good” program teaches patients how to cope with hair loss, style their make-up and accessorize with scarves. It also provides rides to and from doctor appointments with the volunteer service called “Road to Recovery.”

The event was also a way to have an informed community discussion about cancer, Heart said.

“A lady (who is a) breast cancer survivor chatted with us for a few minutes (during the event),” she said. “People talking and letting (others) know that it is OK to talk about it, to educate other people, even if you are not directly involved, you should still share the information.”