Youngster gives special gift
BY TALI ISRAELI
Staff Writer

Allie Virgilio

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP - It took an act of courage and a kind heart for Allie Virgilio to cut off 12 inches of her hair.

Allie, 12, a seventh-grader at the Eisenhower Middle School, donated 12 inches of her long brown hair to Locks of Love in August.

Locks of Love is a nonprofit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under the age of 18 who are suffering from long-term hair loss due to a medical condition.

Allie's mom, Barbara, said she knows how hard it must have been for a middle school pupil to change her appearance so drastically.

"I thought it was pretty brave of her," Barbara added.

It was not an easy task for Allie, who said she cried while getting her hair cut at Bal Harbour Salon and Day Spa, Deal.

Linda Chehanske, Allie's religious school teacher at St. Rose of Lima, Free-hold Borough, agreed with Barbara's sentiments. Chehanske, who has taught Allie for 10 years, said she thought it took a lot of courage for Allie to make such a dramatic change.

"I know it was a difficult thing to do, but it showed her big heart and a lot of compassion for the charity it benefits," she said.

Chehanske said since Allie is usually a quiet and shy girl, she was happy the youngster made such an outgoing move.

Allie said she was just glad to know she was doing a good deed for someone else.

"I was proud of myself that I was able to help someone," she said.

Barbara said her daughter's charitable act was inspired by Barbara's aunt who suffered from a disease in which she was unable to grow her hair. Barbara said her aunt had to wear wigs since childhood.

Chehanske said she believes Allie is setting a good example for other middle school pupils. She said St. Rose teachers encourage their students in the sixth, seventh and eighth grades to think about other people and to get involved in community service activities.

Chehanske said she hopes Allie's story will inspire other youngsters to think about what they can do for someone else.