It was an emotional morning at Mirage Hair & Esthetics Studio in Val Caron as several inches of hair were shed, as well as a few tears.
Mother and daughter Diane Davis and Chloé Davis, along with Josée Rochette, sat down in the chairs at the salon on Feb. 25 to have a total of 71 inches of hair cut off between themselves and one other family member, in honour of their late relative, Diane Giroux.
Giroux passed away a year ago after a battle with lung cancer, and the three ladies, along with Giroux's niece Lise Giroux — who cut her hair earlier in the week — wanted to do something special in her honour.
The decision was one of influence passed down from mother Diane to daughter Chloé, who then convinced her cousin, Josée to join in.
"We were sitting watching a movie together and my mom brought it up that we should cut our hair for (aunt) Diane," said Chloé, who is the veteran in the group when it comes to this kind of thing.
"This is my fourth time donating my hair, but it's the first time since I was in Grade 8."
Josée and Diane were donating for their first times.
"I don't know if I could have done it if they weren't both doing it," said Rochette. "I've only ever trimmed my hair, I've never cut off this much all at one time, but once I knew it was for my great aunt I had to do it."
Chloé started a GoFundMe page which reached its $500 goal a few days before the girls got their hair cut, but the page will remain open until at least the end of the month if there are other interested donors.
Diane also decided to match the length of hair donated with $1 per inch, adding $71 to the tally. The money will be donated to Maison McCulloch Hospice, and the hair will go to 360 Hair in British Columbia.
The group is also donating an Adirondack chair to the hospice that Diane hopes to serve as a memory piece.
"We want people who have lost loved ones or have friends or family at the hospice to be able to come in and sign the chair, and send their wishes."
To donate to Chloé's "Cutting our Hair for Hospice Care" fundraiser, visit the GoFundMe page.
