Whiz Kid: Abington's Ally Marshall organizes a hair donation campaign for Sunday

An Abington High School senior is getting her hair cut this weekend … along with about 20 other people at the same salon.

(The last part makes it a bit newsier.)

Ally Marshall, 17, of Glenside, will be lopping off at least eight inches of her hair Feb. 13 at Salon 360 in Huntingdon Valley. But instead of the hair hitting the floor, followed by the broom, dustpan and ultimately the trash can, the hair will be donated to Pantene’s Beautiful Lengths program, which collects donated hair and transforms it into free wigs for American Cancer Society wig banks throughout the country, according to the program’s website.

Marshall organized the donation campaign as part of her senior project — a graduation requirement at the high school. She went with the idea because her mother was diagnosed with cancer about 10 years ago.

Her mother is now cancer free.

“My mom had cancer,” Marshall said, “and it made me think of how I would be helping people, especially since it was a subject so close to home. Being able to help someone that was in my mom’s position … I just know how much it would mean to someone.”

Marshall got the ball rolling on the project last August, when she threw the idea around to her family and friends. One of her teachers, Betina Roher, suggested that Marshall approach Salon 360. The salon agreed to host the campaign, and offered to cut all of the hair that is being donated for free.

Then, it was up to Marshall to promote her project.

“It was really hard trying to figure out how I was going to get people to do this for me and help me out,” Marshall said. “I know a lot of girls my age don’t want to get rid of their hair, so it was hard to convince people. I put fliers out, made announcements, started Facebook groups … but once an idea was put out there, it sprouted many more ideas.”

Marshall also contacted students from Cheltenham, Jenkintown, Upper Dublin and Upper Moreland school districts. 

Eighteen people are signed up to donate their hair Feb. 13, but Marshall is hoping more people sign up the day-of. Donated hair must be at least eight inches long, may not be bleached, and may not be more than 5 percent gray. For a full list of the requirements, click here.

Marshall said she contacted Pantene in an effort to have a Beautiful Lengths representative at the salon, but it wasn’t possible. So the hair will be placed in boxes and shipped off to Pantene.

“I have some of my friends coming to help me,” Marshall said, “and we’ll also be selling bracelets to raise money for the Make-a-Wish Foundation, but for the most part, I’m just going to make sure things go smoothly — it means so much to me.”

Salon 360 is located at 1940 County Line Road, Huntingdon Valley. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.