Jan. 30, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Alicia Ginsberg or Alma Padilla, Student Community Services
805-756-5834; seniorservices@gmail.com
Dozens Donate Pony Tails for Cancer Patients at Cal Poly Event
SAN LUIS OBISPO - Cal Poly students collected 180 pony tails from 47 donors Tuesday at the campus's first Pony Tail Drive to benefit the American Cancer Society and people battling the disease.
The event was held throughout the day in the University Union Plaza, where hairstylists from the Bluebird Salon in San Luis Obispo gave donors free haircuts and styles. In exchange, the donors agreed to cut off eight inches or more of their hair.
These small pony tails were collected for donation to the cancer society, which uses them to make wigs for cancer patients who've lost their hair from treatment of the disease. The hair collected will make about 30 wigs, organizers said.
The event was put on by Cal Poly's Student Community Services.
Donors included Cal Poly students such as Priscilla Marruffo, a third-year student studying math.
"I've known a lot of people who have passed away from cancer," Marruffo said. "It feels good to donate."
Other donors were community members who came to campus specifically for the Pony Tail Drive, such as Christina Molnar of Los Osos.
"I've always thought about donating my hair to a cancer patient," Molnar said. "They need it more than I do."
Eight stylists from Bluebird Salon worked furiously to keep up with all the donors throughout the day, organizers said. In the end, several would-be donors had to be turned away because there was no one available to cut their hair.
As well, almost a dozen people showed up at the University Union on Tuesday morning to volunteer - including taking before-and-after pictures of donors, helping with check-ins, and setting up and taking down the event.
Organizers hope the interest in this year's drive will lead to it becoming an annual event on campus.
For more information on Cal Poly's Student Community Services, log on to http://studentlife.calpoly.edu/scs/, call (805) 756-5834 or send e-mail to scs@calpoly.edu.
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