Raising awareness, funds for child cancer research

Andrea Allstun sees her new look in the mirror after her sister, Amie Glass, right, finished the head shaving at the St. Baldrick's Foundation event Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015 at Cutting Edge Salon in Jackson. (Fred Lynch)

Andrea Allstun is sporting a new short haircut these days. Short hair never looked so good.

The local woman has raised more than $8,000 to support child cancer research. Recently she joined friends and family at the Cutting Edge Salon in Jackson to have her locks cut off (and donated to Locks of Love) and the remainder shaved. It was her way to bring awareness for the cause.

Sarah Singleton, 12, helped with the new haircut for Allstun. Singleton in 2013 was diagnosed with brain cancer. She lost her hair for a time, but it's since started to come back.

"I think it was pretty cool to be shaving someone else's head," she said in a story by Southeast Missourian reporter Tyler Graef.

There were shirts made by Allstun with the phrase: "Bald Never Looked So Good." The names of 14 local children diagnosed with cancer were included on them: Hannah, Lexi, Abby, Nolan, Sahara, Sarah, Wyatt H., Wyatt G., Lance, Lorelei, Marshall, Hunter, Madyson and Brody.

Periodically stories and photos appear in the newspaper about local people raising awareness for causes or donating inches of hair to Locks of Love. It's always heartwarming to see people doing good things. It's also sad because we know there are children -- and adults -- who suffer from the disease.

We applaud Allstun for raising awareness and much needed funds for cancer research.

If you would like to donate in support of this fundraiser, Allstun's web page is stbaldricks.org/participants/mypage/767289/2015.