By Melissa Beth Ruiz
On Friday, Feb. 18, the Londonderry High School senior class gathered in the LHS gymnasium to witness their fellow Lancers, some alumni, and some family members gather to give at least eight inches of their hair to strangers losing their own hair to cancer treatments.
This was the first time having an audience back at the assembly since restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic forced LHS to hold it remotely last year.
The event was made possible thanks to the efforts of the school’s Pep Rally team, who LHS English Teacher and Day of Giving coordinator Steven Juster said “Put in hours preparing the event, all morning putting in ponytails, and making the day magical.”
Because the event had the return of a live audience, the National Honor Society was able to bring back the traditional Day of Giving “Miracle Minute.” This year, funds collected went to benefit the National Alliance on Mental Illness, an organization especially vital in today’s uncertain times.
“Mental health for both children and adults is in dire need of attention,” said Jennifer Cutuli, second grade teacher at South Elementary school, and mother to an LHS sophomore. “As a country, we need to address it and not keep band-aiding it. Hopefully those funds will help…get to a better path to mental health as a community.”
The Day of Giving has gained LHS national attention in years past, and has drawn a few out-of-towners in to become a part of Lancer Nation.
LHS Senior Makenna Lord said that being a resident of Hooksett, she had a few options when it came to enrolling in high school, and said the Day of Giving was one of a few things that helped guide her decision.
Though she hasn’t known anyone who has gone through cancer, the impact hair donation had on others still resonated with Lord, who had first donated her own hair when she was in the seventh grade.
“Knowing that I’m changing people’s lives who I don’t know, knowing something as simple as giving my hair can help give them the confidence they need is special to me.” said Lord.
Cutuli was also able to give her hair in person, thanks to a lucky snow storm on the original date of Day of Giving 2022.
“I got up that day and emailed Mister Juster saying, ‘I know it’s last minute, but can I get in if you reschedule?’ and he said ‘Absolutely!’ I was so excited for that snow day, for more than just a day off!” she said.
Cutuli said that seeing what her mother-in-law went through while battling breast cancer made her see what a difference hair donation could make.
“It’s amazing the amount of things cancer takes from people that people don’t think about.” said Cutuli.
Both of Sophmore Jillian Mazzola’s parents had gone through some form of cancer at one point, but are now thankfully cancer free. Still, Mazzola said that the desire to help others was part of what inspired her to donate for the first time.
“It’s kind of like a rare opportunity to help someone who you won’t ever know, but you’ll know it is making a big impact.” said Mazzola.
Senior Larissa Dillon also had a seat on the floor, and had brought a very special guest with her, with the help of smart phone technology.
Dillon had initially planned for Londonderry Middle School student and Dillon family friend Lexi Adams to cut her hair, but due to the intensity of Adams’s cancer treatment weakening her immune system, Dillon’s boyfriend made the physical cut with Adams by her side via facetime.
Adams had first been diagnosed with cancer in the third grade. While she had overcome her first battle, tragically, the cancer would return a few years later.
“I watched her slowly lose her hair, and (saw) how she seemed more upset and self conscious,” explained Dillon. “I decided I would donate in honor of her.”
Though restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic have lingered, Lancer Nation remains as determined as ever to keep up the tradition of having its Day of Giving take place on the gym floor, rather than to collect the hair separately.
Mazzola commented that the excitement of seeing her fellow students giving their hair was part of what helped motivate her to give her own, and without that others might not have that same motivation.
Lord echoed those sentiments, adding that holding the Day of Giving assembly gives the cause more recognition.
While giving up one’s hair to give to those losing their own is a noble cause in and of itself, students agree that to experience the magic of giving alongside their peers leaves a much bigger impact, leading more to follow by example.