Deployed BHR Sailors Cut Hair, Donate to Kids in Need

USS BONHOMME RICHARD, At Sea (NNS) -- Two female Sailors aboard USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) cut off over 10 inches of their hair while at sea in January to a donate to a public non-profit organization called Locks of Love, which makes customized hair prosthetics for children experiencing long term hair loss.

Navy Counselor 1st Class (AW/SCW) Makeleta Munoz cut 11 inches of her hair Jan. 16, one day after Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Janell Alvarez cut hers.

Alvarez, who had three feet of hair before she joined the Navy in 1996, has now donated approximately 70 inches of her hair over a 14-year span. Donations must meet a 10-inch requirement.

"After research on the organization and seeing who I would be benefiting, I started to donate my hair every time it reached a certain length," said Alvarez, who encouraged Muñoz to join the cause.

"When Alvarez told me that her hair was going to kids in need, including those receiving treatment for cancer, it reminded me of my sister," said Munoz. "Two years ago I lost my sister to stomach cancer."

Her sister, Mauhelotu, was diagnosed with cancer at age 26 in December of 2007. Mauhelotu started to lose her hair after a second dose of chemotherapy treatment. Munoz, who is half Tongan and half Samoan, recalls that her sister was embarrassed about her hair loss whenever family visited the hospital.

Long hair is an important symbol of beauty in their culture. In fact, hair isn't typically cut to shoulder length until after ones' father has passed away. Shoulder-length hair is a sign of mourning.

Munoz's sister passed away 6 months after she was diagnosed. "I'm not mourning right now, but the cause was greater so I cut it," said Muñoz. "I would encourage others to cut their hair too because it is going to someone who is less fortunate and can make a kid happy. I know it would have made my sister happy."

Most of the children helped by Locks of Love have lost their hair because of alopecia, an auto-immune disorder that causes the hair follicles to shut down. Cancer or even traumas such as burns, accidents or dog attacks are also common causes. Once her hair grows back to 10 inches, Muñoz plans to cut and donate it again.

The Locks of Love organization provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada who are under the age of 21 and suffer from long term medical hair loss due to any diagnosis.

Bonhomme Richard is the command platform for the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group and the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, currently conducting Maritime Security Operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.

For more news from Amphibious Squadron 7 visit www.navy.mil/local/cas7.