In late September of 2005, everyone watched the news. They watched as families, cities, homes and lives were devastated from two major hurricanes. My family and I were one of those families.

My family and I relocated to New York State to rebuild our lives. Thinking we could get back to some semblance of a normal life. But then in November of 2005 our lives were rocked again as my wife was diagnosed with Type2 Diabetes.

Everything that we were was taken away, our daily lives changed forever, and yet there was something more. There was something that a storm, a destroyed home, a lost job, or even a disease couldnt take away from us...hope.

As the months progressed we fought for a better life, my wife always the optimist would say Tomorrow will be better, youll see. Eventually she was right, our tomorrow had come, and we pulled through it all and remained a loving and devoted family.

I was watching a medical show and heard about children with the disease alopecia areata. It causes hair loss and demoralizes them. They usually fall into depression. I sat up one night, thinking about how our family prevailed only because we never lost hope. So how could I give hope to someone that I have never really met? How could I give the same hope that I had. The answer came to me while surfing the web. Locks of Love is a non-profit organization that provides hair pieces for under-privileged kids who have lost their hair. Their requested donation, at least 10 inches of hair.

My hair? Ive had my long hair for over 10 years. It has become a part of who I am. Then I thought back to all that we have gone through, all that we had lost and yet were still able to make it. My hair became a symbol, not to me, but to what it would mean to someone else. My hair could give someone else hope, someone else a way to feel normal again.

I walked into the hair salon a little nervous about such a big change for me, but walked out with a fuller heart and knowing that I did at least something to make someones life better.

I learned that its not the look that makes me who I am, but what I do that defines me. Now strangely enough, that took 30yrs and a hurricane to figure it out, but Im glad I did.

If you are interested in helping out, contact your local salon, many will send in the hair for you. You can find out more details by going to www.locksoflove.org and give a child hope for a brighter tomorrow.