Andrea Donaghe donates hair to non-profit organization

Campus English teacher Andrea Donaghe decided to donate 10-12 inches of her hair to honor the Locks of Love foundation and give to those in need. This decision was spurred on by love for serving others and a passion for giving.

Donaghe grew up in a family where volunteering and serving others was encouraged and required. Before every school year, her family would plan on where to volunteer during the semester. She often chose the hospital, after-school programs and Awana, a Christian nonprofit organization whom she was a leader of.

She continued the tradition into adulthood and even in her marriage. Her husband Scott Donaghe supported her volunteer activities and projects, especially choosing to donate her hair this year to Locks of Love.

Locks of Love is a non-profit organization which provides hairpieces for kids with medical hair loss from any diagnosis. With the donated hair, they create high-quality hair prosthetics.

When she was younger, Donaghe used to watch “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and see non-profit organizations give wigs away to young girls who went through cancer treatments. Her mother was also a cosmetologist who told her about Locks of Love and how women received wigs from the organization. Since then she thought it would be an amazing idea to donate for a good cause.

“I was so excited,” Donaghe said. “I grew it for over a year and I’ve actually cut it twice this year, so it could have been longer. I have no regrets because hair grows back. It grows fast and I think if I had had long hair for a while I’d probably have a hard time parting with it but I was ready to let go.”

A key motivational factor to her decision was influenced by campus student Trista Brown. Over a year ago, superintendent Jeremy Brown shared that his daughter Trista lost all her hair due to her medical treatment from a Bone Marrow Transplant. The thought of Trista losing all her hair brought Donaghe to tears as she thought how hair is a part of a girls identity.

For Trista, it was hard to lose her hair. She lost most of it in less than two weeks. But when she went through chemotherapy, she felt her hair becomes less important, as getting better became the number one priority.

“I am touched that Mrs. Donaghe was motivated by me to get her hair cut for Locks of Love,” Brown said. “It is comforting to know support comes from surprising places. I think Locks of Love is a great organization and it provides a way for people to support patients of chemotherapy by donating their hair.”

Donaghe feels so blessed to be able to give away something of hers to bring joy to someone else. Although she does not always have the money to donate to important organizations such as the Salvation Army, Valley Children’s Hospital and Locks Of Love, she can still ring the bell during Christmas, buy a newspaper on Kid’s Day and donate 12 inches of her hair and encourages others to do what they can to help others.

For more articles, read A spotlight on Fresno area student journalism and The Forgotten Book review.

This writer can be reached via Twitter @schultz_kamryn and via email: Kamryn Schultz.