LINDON, UTAH (ABC 4 News) –A Lindon gymnastic team will be a little lighter as they do their bar and floor routines. Saturday, their studio was transformed into a salon, and they all became winners by giving away a very personal gift.
Twenty-five members of the Arete Gymnastics team got a whole new look. They transitioned from long hair, to short do's. Locks of love, and Hopekids, groups that help children battling cancer, received the girls’ very personal gift.
The owner of Arete, Jana Coleman, says what began as a family project expanded to include the whole team.” It kind of started out with myself and my daughter and we decided well, we might as well invite the whole team to do it because they all have long ponies."
The gymnasts started growing their hair out last summer. The goal was at least seven inches, carefully measured and cut. The team’s hair will be crafted into high quality wigs. Coleman says she has seen this process before, her mother had cancer."They are designed specific to each head they take a mold and fit it, and you can't tell it's a wig."
For some, this was not only their first time donating hair, it was also the first time in a salon chair. Volunteer stylist, Wendy Johnson, says it can be emotional. It’s a big deal. In fact, I asked one of the girls and she said she will miss her hair but it will grow back."
And as the hair came off, the team of girls had mixed emotions, but no regrets. Seventeen year old Genyev Coleman says she understands she is giving a gift that could bring comfort to someone enduring a lot of pain. "It’s good to know you are giving back to kids that need it because yea, my hair will grow back but they need it."
After the hair cutting was over, the team hosted gymnastics day for Hopekids. Children battling cancer and other life threatening illnesses were allowed to play around in the gym.
