By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgann.bsky.social
A newly shorn Valley Township Supervisor Casey Leidy shows off the ponytails he donated this week to Wigs for Kids.
It all started as a idea to get a little girl to brush her hair, but it ended this week when a local elected official donated his lengthy locks to help kids battling various forms of cancer, illness and injury.
Valley Township Supervisor Casey Leidy surrendered his locks this week at Platinum Salon in West Chester to benefit Wigs for Kids, a charity that brings donors and stylists together to collect pony tails to be made into wigs for kids suffering from illness or injury that impacts their hair.
Leidy, a Valley Supervisor since 2021, explains how it all came to pass:
“My hair donation journey began when my first daughter, Liberty, was born in 2019,” he said. “By the time she was three, we were struggling to develop a consistent or even any hair brushing routine. Then, in November 2022, my second daughter, Isabell, arrived.
“As a family, we made the difficult decision for me to become a stay-at-home dad to care for our now three-year-old and infant daughters. This decision ultimately gave me the freedom to grow out my hair without the constant pressure of being in a professional setting full-time.
“Our hope was that by me growing my hair long and requiring more daily care, my oldest daughter would adopt good habits. However, after about a year and a half of growing my hair out, I realized it had little to no impact on my daughter’s own routines.”
While Leidy’s attempt to get his daughter into a hair brushing routine failed, his newly long hair offered another opportunity.
“At this point, I was ready to cut my hair,” Leidy said. “But my wife advised me against it, saying I was so close to donating it to a good cause that I should give it another year. I listened to my wife’s advice, as we all should, and waited another year.”
While waiting for his hair to reach optimal length for donation, Leidy began to learn of options to make the donation.
“After waiting roughly another year, and almost three years in total, the time had finally come,” he said. “Growing up in this area and before becoming a stay-at-home dad, I was an avid listener of Preston and Steve (on WMMR-FM’s morning show).
“Every year, Kathy Romano hosts Kathy’s Cuts, which benefits the wonderful cause of Wigs for Kids, which helps make wigs for children bravely battling childhood cancers. This was an easy decision for me. I couldn’t think of a better cause or more deserving recipients than children battling such a disease as cancer. Not only does cancer put a halt to their ability to simply be kids due to treatments and doctor’s visits, but it also robs them of their individuality by taking their hair.”
Having found the right donation organization, Leidy needed to find a local partner to make sure his hair was cut properly and collected for donation.
“When it came time to donate my hair, I wanted to find a place that not only cut it but also handled the donation process,” he said. “After visiting the Wigs for Kids website, I discovered a salon in the area that partnered with them and did just that. That salon is Platinum Salon in West Chester, and they couldn’t have been better.”
Platinum Salon turned out to be the perfect choice, Leidy said.
Rachel Brodie of Platinum Salon in West Chester starts the process of cutting Casey Leidy’s donation ponytails.
“The entire staff at Platinum Salon was incredibly helpful and friendly, making the entire experience seamless and enjoyable,” he said. “They employ a stylist named Rachel Brodie, who specializes in cutting hair for Wigs for Kids, and Rachel was truly exceptional. Not only did Rachel cut my hair perfectly, but they also made the experience incredibly positive.”
Leidy said he hopes his donation helps kids and encourages others to do that same. And he offered praise for Platinum Salon for making the donation experience so positive.
“I highly recommend Rachel and Platinum Salon to anyone who has the time and ability to donate their hair,” he said. “The experience was unique for me, as I had never had long hair before and learned all the challenges and joys that come with it. Ultimately, I know that my hair will make one child’s daily life brighter and more comfortable, which makes the entire process truly worthwhile.”
For those interested in learning more about Wigs for Kids, the organization’s Website offers a quick summary:
“Wigs For Kids brings together stylists and hair donors who want to help children experiencing hair loss from alopecia, trichotillomania, burns, chemotherapy or any other medical causes of hair loss. When the right connections are made, regular people can make real changes in these children’s lives every single day. All it takes is the right hairstylist with the right pair of scissors and someone willing to donate a ponytail!”
For even more information, visit Wigs for Kids on the Web at https://www.wigsforkids.org
