By Lisa Wilcox
Staff Writer
CARIBOU — When Clare Kilcollins enters her kindergarten class at Hilltop School in Caribou today, it’s possible that her classmates and friends won’t recognize her. Last week Clare underwent a transformation for a good cause.
In honor of her Nana Sharon Williams, of Caribou, and Great-Nana Lois Crawford, of Mars Hill, both cancer survivors, the 5-year-old had 12 inches of her hair cut off and donated the blond strands to Pantene’s Beautiful Lengths program.
“It was scary,” Clare admitted, but doesn’t regret for a second the beneficial haircut, adding, “It feels good.”
The Pantene Beautiful Lengths program is a partnership with the American Cancer Society. Since the program’s beginning in 2006, Pantene has received over 400,000 ponytails from donors and has provided approximately 24,000 real-hair wigs for the American Cancer Society to distribute to recipients.
This was Clare’s first major haircut ever. Mandy Kilcollins, Clare’s mother, advised that the cut definitely changed her daughter’s look.
“Her father and grandfather both commented on the change,” Mandy laughed. “Her Papa kept saying, ‘Where’s my Clare?” and her father said, ‘No strangers at our dinner table!’”
But it was evident from the smile in Clare’s big, blue eyes that she was aware of the difference her newly coiffed hair would make in someone’s life. When asked if it felt good to know that her hair was going to help someone with cancer feel better about themselves, the shy Clare nodded her head, making her brand new bob sway with enthusiasm.
For more information about Pantene’s Beautiful Lengths program, visit their website at www.pantene.com.
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| Contributed Photo Five-year-old Clare Kilcollins’ ponytail reached to the small of her back before her haircut last week to donate her hair to Pantene’s Beautiful Lengths program for cancer patients in need of a wig. |
Aroostook Republican Photo/Lisa Wilcox A cute chin-length bob is the result for 5-year-old Clare Kilcollins after having 12 inches of her blond locks cut off last week in order to donate the hair to Pantene’s Beautiful Lengths program. |
