By Theresa Woelk

staff writer

Valerie Bertsch was nervous as she sat in front of the mirror, fidgeting in the chair before her recent hair appointment.

It had been two years since her last actual hair cut.

Glenda Mespelt of Shear Illusions made it quick and painless. In three snips of her scissors, Mespelt cut off 12 inches of Bertschs hair.

Bertsch actually liked her shorter tresses, but her appearance was not her main focus.

She was more concerned about the appearance of someone she has never met and will probably never meet.

Bertsch, a sophomore at Hermiston High School, donated her hair to the Locks of Love program in Palm Springs, Fla.

The organization makes custom-fitted hairpieces for financially disadvantaged children with medical hair loss.

Donated hair must be at least 10 inches long, although they prefer the locks to be 12 inches in length, and free of chemical processing damage.

Bertsch began growing her hair in eighth grade. She decided to cut it off and donate it after reading about the organization in the newspaper.

I have the hair and other people dont, she explained. I thought it would be a nice thing to do for them.

(For complete story, see March 6 edition of The Hermiston Herald)