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WIGS FOR ALL - NEW COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION providing human hair wigs to women, men, and children living with Cancer, Alopecia Areata, and Breast Cancer started

Timothy Lunceford, founder of WIGS FOR ALL kicked off the announcement of the founding of WIGS FOR ALL by cutting twenty-six inches of his hair, after growing it for over a year and a half to provide hair for a wig, for a patient in the New York Area undergoing treatment for Cancer, Alopecia Areata, or Breast Cancer at Doodle Doo Children’s Hair Salon in Manhattan

New York, NY — December 19, 2007

As a cancer survivor, watching fellow patient during his life, Timothy Lunceford wanted to know why some could not get wigs at a reasonable price to wear so they can focus on the treatment, new advancements, and other ways to compliment their care. Seeing many patients talk about the loss of hair during chemotherapy, Timothy explored organizations nationwide to find the two organization best know for collecting hair had limitations on their acceptance that left many over the age of twenty without access to the programs. He recognized Cancer, Alopecia Areata, and Breast Cancer can affect anyone at any age.

Without being able to convince the other organizations to open their availability to older patients, he contacted the American Cancer Society to find out why they did not have a wig program for all aged patients. They responded they did not have the resources to start such a program but wished him well with his adventure trying to create WIGS FOR ALL. Working alone for a couple of years, friends began to offer their help in creating WIGS FOR ALL. Contacting New York Salons across Manhattan. Looking to canvass the other four boroughs, he began to ask salons to participate in WIGS FOR ALL. He recognized many of the patients who could use a wig during treatment may be financially challenged. Pledging to make sure no patient asking and qualifying would be turned away, he found that ten inches or more of hair was all that was needed for a wig maker to make a wig. Allowing grey, color-treated, and natural ponytails is how he differentiated WIGS FOR ALL from the other wig organizations.

Forming a board of directors to oversee operations, he grew his hair to 26 inches as a statement of remembrance to friends and associates lost to cancer, friend Charlie Moulrie at age 15 during high school, friend and neighbor, sculptor Steve Weiss, from lung cancer in 2001, friend and neighbor Activist Bob Kohler, just weeks ago, from lung cancer, and a college contact he met while on the school entertainment committee, musician Dan Fogleberg, who just died this past weekend from prostrate cancer, and poet Audrey Lorde who died of Breast Cancer.

Wigs for All will strive to make a difference in patients lives so they can have quality of life and well-being to explore all areas of treatment and understanding fighting the disease fully informed. No worrying about the loss of hair in their lives.

Encouragement for Wigs for All was conveyed from Lance Armstrong’s LIVE STRONG organization and also from Donna Karen’s Urban Zen initiative. Currently the WIGS FOR ALL program will be based 5 borough in New York City. It is planned with board development to bring WIGS FOR ALL nationwide. There have been inquiries by cancer groups in France and Denmark on how to participate. Plans are for development exploring future expansion beginning in year two.

Operations funding will occur through private donations. An ecology program will be unveiled in second quarter 2008 using non wig making lengths of hair in oil recovery process. Details to follow.

Volunteer and Donations should be made by calling (212) 328-9219.

QUOTES

"Providing human hair wigs to patients with low income is a  wonderful expression of love for woman/mankind" - MJ Shaw

"Getting hair salons and barbershops involved is a great way to get Wigs for All donations." - Maud Emanuel

"Solving the angst of someone loosing their hair will make a difference in a life so a patient can focus on the well-being of all treatments"  - Timothy Lunceford

About Wigs for All. Wigs for All is a  startup non-profit organization uniting donors of human hair with ponytails made into wigs to patients living with cancer, Alopecia Areata, Breast Cancer, Woman, Man, Boy or Girl.  Wigs for All is proud to have a non gender, no age, policy for who can apply for a wig.  Wigs take approximately 3 months to finish and reach a patient.  Patients have liberty to cut and style wig into any style they desire. Wigs for All is funded strictly from private donations.  All work is done by volunteers.

CONTACT INFORMATION

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