Charitable Cause Hits Salon Owners Close To Home

Kristen MacBride and Melinda Bokeno are doing more than cut hair at their Bel Air salon these days—they are supporting the fight against leukemia and lymphoma.

On Wednesday that fight will take the form of shaving heads free of charge.

When Bokeno and MacBride learned their client Sarah Collier had been diagnosed with lyphoma and was losing her hair because of chemotherapy, the solution was obvious.

Bella Amici volunteered to shave 26-year-old Collier's head free of charge along with a number of Collier's friends who want to show solidarity.

"There’s going to be about 10 people getting their heads shaved and maybe a few girls getting pixie cuts because they’re scared," MacBride said. "We’re not charging them."

A representative from the local chapter of the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society will have a tent outside the salon and will be accepting donations.

"It’s nice to be able to give back," MacBride said.

Both owners have personal connections to leukemia and lymphoma and giving back to the community by supporting the caused seemed like a good fit for them.

Bokeno's father is a lymphoma survivor and MacBride's mother has been diagnosed with leukemia.

"She’s living with it, she got diagnosed a couple years ago when she went in for knee surgery," MacBride said of her mother.

While her mother is not getting chemotherapy it this point, it's simply a question of when as opposed to if.

"I’m always on her to stay healthy," MacBride said.

MacBride's friend, Demie Wilhelm, succumbed to leukemia in April. MacBride and three others are raising money for leukemia and participating in the Baltimore Marahthon in her honor.

Wednesday's hair cutting frenzy is just one of the ways the salon owners are supporting a cure for leukemia and lymphoma. In on Sept. 30 they will be hosting a "Shop for a Cure" event at the salon.

During the event, which will run from noon until 5 p.m., local vendors will set up on Bella Amici property and offer items for sale. A percentage of their profits will go toward the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

"I think our event  on the 30th is just going to be so huge," MacBride said.

Is you or someone you know suffering from leukemia or lymphoma? What do the efforts of these salon owners mean to you? Leave a comment.