Kalen Stevens-Heap of Vancouver, B.C., long-time dreadhead and Knotty Boy customer, 'sold' every last one of her 69 golden waist-length locks to raise funds for the Children's Wish Foundation. Her effort was in memory of her best friend Alice Dietrich-O'Connor, who passed away in 1998 at age 15 from osteosarcoma cancer.

A few months before Alice passed, The Children's Wish Foundation granted her wish and sent her on a wonderful trip to Banff, Alberta. Kalen decided to do what she could to give another child an opportunity like the one Alice had, by giving up a piece of herself: her hair.

Not only did Knotty Boy 'buy' one of Kalen's beloved locks, we helped her make the transition from long to short pain-free as possible.

After raising over $2,000 for her cause, on March 26, 2006, Kalen arrived at the Knotty Boy Lock Shop and Salon where balloons and homemade carrot cake (who knew it was Kalen's favourite?) were waiting to welcome her and celebrate the special occasion.

Knotty Boy stylists Becca and Zoe donated their own time for the task of cutting off Kalen's dreads, following it with a deep-clean, scalp massage, and a cut and colour to give her a fresh, brand-spankin' new look - from which she can start growing her locks again, of course!

Surrounded by friends, supporters and Knotty staff - some of us teary-eyed - Kalen was transformed from a flowing dreadlocked beauty into a new, adorable, short-haired pixie version of herself.

Her locks were then gathered up to be later ceremoniously burned on Denman Island with her sister, in memory of her friend Alice. It was a wonderful day for all of us present, and we at Knotty Boy are so happy to have been a part of it with Kalen.

To read more about Kalen's fundraiser please visit her blog Dreads for Wishes.

If you are thinking of chopping your own locks sometime soon, consider doing what Kalen has done and use it as an opportunity to raise money for something you believe in. Contact us for promotion of your project, we are always happy to help a good cause!