By Sam Gilkey
For the News-Gazette

A snip here. A cut there. And in under an hour, 30 kids and adults had their hair trimmed and on the way to be made into wigs for children who have lost their hair either permanently or temporarily due to a medical condition.

The event took place May 9, at Michigan Avenue Elementary School in St. Cloud. Hairstylists from Cherie’s Design Team and Victor Russell Salon did the honors.

“This was our second year to collect hair for the Wigs for Kids Foundation,” said Sharon Busalacchi, a teacher at the school. “My daughter and I had our hair cut a few years ago for the program and I brought it up last year as a project for Michigan Avenue.”

Wigs for Kids was started 25 years ago in Westlake, Ohio. The foundation said it takes 20 to 30 ponytails, at least 10 inches in length, to create one hairpiece.

Everyone who showed up for the event was enthusiastic over what they were doing.

Six-year-old Isaiah Ali was the only boy in the group. That didn’t stop him from sitting down in front of Rick Villard, an owner of Victor Russell Salon, and watching his locks drop off.

“I wanted to help the poor kids who have cancer,” he proudly said after it was over.

Giana Fabian from Victor Russell was at a second chair.

For at least a couple of the students it was the first time their hair had ever been cut.

“It was for a good cause,” said 7-year-old Grace Ricketts, a first grader at the school.

“We have had it trimmed a few times, but she had never had it cut this much before,” her mother, Juli, said. “Even with all they cut off, she still has a lot left – enough for next year. Maybe I will donate my hair then.”

Anniya Semidey, 8, a second-grade student, also had her first cut according to her mother. Previously, she had only a few inches taken off.

Kaley Rivera, 14, heard about the program from her mother, who works at the school. It had been two years since she last had her hair cut.

“I had been wanting to get it cut,” Kaley, an eighth-grader at St. Cloud Middle School, said. “I decided to wait when I heard about what they were going to do. I’m glad to have it off. It’s much cooler now.”

Cherie O’Brien has been a hairdresser for more than 40 years and had her shop in St. Cloud for the past 10 years. She asks her customers for their hair so it can be sent to Wigs for Kids and has been one of hundreds of salons around the country that contribute their time and skills. O’Brien was assisted by Gina Dispensa from the shop.

After everyone had their hair cut, Pat Strickland, a guidance counselor at Michigan Avenue, declared the afternoon a success.

“We were very pleased with the turnout,” she said. “Next year we will start publicizing it earlier and get the word out to St. Cloud High and St. Cloud Middle School, and to the community. We would like to get even more participants next year.”