On Saturday, Jennifer Cavage, 26, of Raymond, lost something she had been quite attached to – about 14 inches of her hair.

Joann Riley, owner of Guys and Gals Salon in Windham cut the strawberry blond ponytail on the stage at Camp Sunshine in Casco before a crowd of nearly 75 friends and family members.

The event served a dual purpose. While the ponytail was destined for Locks of Love, an organization that provides wigs to children who suffer from hair loss, the pledges of money that Cavage gathered for what she called her Mane Event were earmarked to cover traveling expenses incurred by families attending Camp Sunshine.

Cavage, who is employed by Camp Sunshine in program support, was inspired to grow her hair by a little girl who wore a wig while visiting the camp. As a result, Cavage waited three years for this haircut, which left her with a chin-length bob.

Cavage admitted to being a bit nervous during the event, but she never thought of changing her mind. And as the pledges grew in number and amount as the supportive crowd watched Riley slide the scissors closer and closer to her scalp, Cavage knew her decision was worth it. By the time the last strand was severed, total contributions had reached $2,000.

Located next to Point Sebago on Sebago Lake, Camp Sunshine focuses on children with life-threatening illnesses as well as their entire families. The program offers a safe and enjoyable retreat from the fears and responsibilities that can burden families undergoing the strain of a serious illness, giving them time for reflection, conversation and relaxation.

Staffed predominately by volunteers, the camp offers the families a free week’s stay through their Family Sponsorship Program.

Locks of Love provides hairpieces to children up through age 18 suffering from long-term hair loss who might not otherwise be able to afford them. The non-profit organization accepts donations of hair at least 10 inches in length. Often, it is children who will grow their hair and make the donations that benefit other children.

If you want more information on either of these organizations, be sure to visit their websites: www.campsunshine.org and www.locksoflove.org.

Camp Sunshine employee Jennifer Cavage holds up her 14-inch ponytail, cut by Joann Riley. Cavage raised pledges for Camp Sunshine with her cutting-edge event and donated her hair to Locks of Love.

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