Girl recovering from cancer pays it forward by helping sick classmate

By Yvette d'Entremont - The Weekly News
TANTALLON - If you have long hair measuring at least 10 inches from tip to tip and have been thinking about cutting it, Tantallon Elementary School teacher Ann Barkhouse is hoping you'll contact her.
The enthusiastic, animated teacher with pink streaks in her hair is organizing the second annual Locks of Love fundraiser. She's welcoming all schools, community groups and individuals throughout HRM and beyond to join them. Hair donations will be given to Locks of Love, which makes wigs for those who lose their hair to cancer treatments.
Terin Corkum is only five, but her voice is filled with conviction as she explains how she'll cut off her long tresses to help.
"No, I'm not going to miss it. I'll still have a little bit of hair," she said of her upcoming hair cut. "I'm doing it for my sister Taylor and for Sophie and her family, just for Locks of Love, so if people don't have any hair they can make wigs out of that hair."
Last year, friends and strangers alike were moved by the story of young Taylor Corkum who was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour. Ironically, Taylor received her diagnosis shortly after she started growing her hair for Locks of Love. She wanted to donate her hair to honour her aunt who had undergone chemotherapy for breast cancer a year earlier.
Friends and strangers alike stepped up to the plate and within a three-week period last winter, organizers collected and handed in 32 donations of hair to Locks of Love in support of Taylor.
This year, outgoing Tantallon Elementary School student Taylor, now 10, will Pay It Forward to another local family in need.
Besides participating in the March 3 hair-cutting ceremony at the school, the public can lend its support by attending the March 6 Red Carpet walk at the Halifax Shopping Centre where participants will show off their new shorter hairstyles.
A Feb. 27 fundraiser is also taking place at the Tantallon Superstore where volunteers will help pack groceries for Locks of Love II from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. They'll also be giving temporary hair streaks and selling Taylor's favourite fun fur pencils and flower pens. All proceeds will be "Paid Forward" to Sophie Hutt, an eight-year-old Tantallon Elementary School student.
The support Taylor's family received last year made it possible for her mother to take the year off work and focus on her daughter's recovery. They're hoping funds collected as part of the Pay It Forward campaign will help Sophie Hutt and her family.
The Grade 2 student underwent open heart surgery at four and a half months old. She has since had 21 different surgeries, including one to remove a tumour from her brain, surgeries to correct her cleft palate, bladder surgery, and three surgeries for ear tubes.
As a young child with spina bifida, Sophie's parents were told she wouldn't be able to sit, stand or crawl. She now walks, runs, dances and rides her bike. Although slightly shy, her eyes dance when she talks about the Locks of Love fundraiser and the upcoming Red Carpet walk.
"I cut my hair at my house. It used to be down to here," Sophie said last week, pointing to her waist area.
She'll donate the ponytail to this year's Locks of Love fundraiser.
Sophie needs expensive hearing aids and will require surgeries to repair both ear drums in the next year or two.
"We had kids grow their hair last year so they could participate this year," said Barkhouse. "As a teacher there's nothing so inspiring as showing kids how to help other kids. They feel so empowered when they can help."
Those willing to join Tantallon Elementary School students and those from Holland Road Elementary already on board are encouraged to visit the school's website where they can get more information and sign up. Barkhouse needs to know how many will be participating in the Halifax runway show by Feb. 19.
"Last year, we raised nine metres of hair and we hope to beat that this year," she said.
More information can be found via the Locks of Love II Fundraiser link at www.tantelem.ednet.ns.ca.
ydentremont@hfxnews.ca