UC Student-Athlete Donates Hair for a Good Cause
UTICA, NY – Utica College sophomore
Tom Zegarelli (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) recently donated 14 inches of hair to the "Children With Hair Loss" non-profit organization. Children With Hair Loss provides human hair replacements at no cost to children and young adults facing medically-related hair loss.
Zegarelli began growing his hair out nearly three years ago, in his junior year of high school. It began simply as a different hairstyle for him, but over the course of time it developed into a way for him to give back to someone who might be slightly less fortunate.
"If I can make one person's life a little bit better through donating my hair then it's all worth it," said Zegarelli. "Maybe this will help raise some awareness and inspire some other teams here at Utica College to get involved."
On the day of his first haircut in nearly three years, he received some help from his mother, who braided his hair, and other family members who helped cut his hair into eight strips of 14 inches. The hair was then mailed to the Children With Hair Loss organization.
The Children With Hair Loss organization says, "When a child's hair is lost due to Cancer treatments, Alopecia, Trichotillomania, Burns, etc., the painful effects are far deeper than just cosmetic. Each year, the number of children requesting hair replacements increases and with your support, we can continue to increase the number of children we are able to help in the future!"
Zegarelli, originally from nearby New Hartford, NY, played in five games last season on the defensive end for the Pioneers. He is currently pursuing a degree in Nursing here at Utica College.
For more information about Children with Hair Loss visit:
https://www.childrenwithhairloss.us/.