Spring Break
One female student gives up her locks to help research for children's cancer
K.C. Vetter
Issue date: 4/16/07 Section: News
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Like many participants, Cox wanted to contribute by shaving her head after losing a loved one to cancer.
"My mom died of cancer a year and a half ago, so I saw first-hand what cancer does to a person," she said. "I couldn't imagine how much worse it would be in the opposite situation and being a parent watching a child go through it."
After going to last year's event with a friend, Cox decided she wanted to participate and had been growing out her hair ever since.
"Last year a friend of mine got shaved and I thought it was a great idea," she said. "I know a lot of people, so I knew raising money and awareness would be easy."
In addition to donating her hair to Locks for Love, Cox also donated her mother's.
"It was my family's idea for me to (donate her hair)," she said. "She didn't have a choice."
According to Cox's St. Baldrick's Web site, she has raised a total of $470.
"I have some cash donations, too, that I haven't put up (on the site) yet," she said. "There's probably about $600 all together."
Cox said for the most part friends were very supportive of her decision.
"Some people offered to pay me not to do it," she said. "But everyone was excited for the most part."
In the week leading up to Sunday, Cox took every opportunity to enjoy her last few days with her long, curly locks.
"All week I knew it was coming up so when I went to see a band I took full advantage of swinging my hair around,"
When it came time for the big day, Cox was not nervous at all.
"I was more nervous about playing the cow bell in "Pan Woman," she laughed.
Before taking her seat with the barber, Cox performed a selection of songs with the Western Illinois University steel band, who provided entertainment for those in attendance.
Cox's (another word for courage) rubbed off onto other steel band members.
Mike Jandt, senior music education major, decided to join Kyla in the center ring after the performance.
"I was impressed with the courage she had to go through with shaving her head," Jandt said. "I figured it's for a good cause, I could do it too."
After
One would think the process of shaving a head would be fairly short. However, Cox said it took about 40 minutes.
"It took a long time for him to take the ponytail off," she said. "He shaved everything around the ponytail and took it all off at once."
Once the ponytail was gone, Cox, like most female participants, said she received some audience feedback.
"Our steel band director, Mr. Kurasz, yelled 'Monchhichi' because that's what he thinks I look like now," Cox laughed.
The shavees had the option of to either have it shaved or bick shaved. Cox opted for the latter.
"I liked this better because it's not as rough," she said. "The barber did a really great job," Cox said. "I was very impressed and happy."
Cox plans on having fun with her new look and enjoying the time and money she'll be saving on shampoo.
"I may keep it shaved for a while. After a while I'm going to look like a chia pet but showers are going to be really short."
"I'm going to have fun with it," she added. "I'm going to spike it and if someone has a wig I would totally wear it."
Cox was glad for the experience and happy she got to help out and try to make a difference but she doesn't plan on taking a razor to her locks again next year.
"It's not going to be an every year thing," Cox said. "I probably won't shave my head again unless it's awhile down the road but I do plan on helping out next year."
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