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Friday, July 27, 2007 12:52 AM CDT
Bullock challenges others to help two worthwhile groups
By Dawn Schabbing, Features Writer
dschabbing@jg-tc.com
MATTOON — Amanda Bullock of Mattoon believes in helping others.
The 22-year-old recent graduate of Millikin University hopes to be teaching high school next fall.
But, if her father’s American Cancer Society Relay for Life team has its way, she might be going into the professional world with a new ’do: a very, very short hairdo.
If her father’s team meets its $3,000 goal she plans to shave her head in honor of the cancer patients and also donate her long blonde locks to another organization, Locks of Love.
“We were talking over dinner. I was telling (Amanda) that I was invited to be on a team and she made the challenge,” said Niel Bullock, 46, of Mattoon.
Bullock, 46, of Mattoon works as an infrastructure support specialist with Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Systems. The organization has a 12-member team that will participate at the first-ever Cumberland County Relay for Life that kicks off tonight at Neal Park in Toledo.
“Amanda has always been the kind of kid that pushes beyond boundaries and challenges the ‘norm’. She is kind-hearted and caring and always involved,” said Bullock.
Amanda said she donated more than 10 inches of hair to Locks of Love in the past. Her hair is about 12 inches long now and Locks of Love requires at least 10 inches for its donations.
Locks of Love is a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under age 18 suffering from long-term medical hair loss.
Relay for Life is an overnight event designed to celebrate survivorship and raise money for research and programs with the American Cancer Society.
“I have long, blonde hair, but I would be more than happy to donate as much of my hair as possible to Locks of Love. (Although it isn’t necessary) I’m willing to cut off all of my hair because this would be a great way to raise awareness and money for two causes — American Cancer Society and Locks of Love —that are so important.”
Bullock said in addition to his daughter’s challenge, others have joined in with challenges of their own.
Team leader Brenda Alexander has encouraged him to join his daughter by shaving his head if $1,000 is raised.
And Alexander said she will “dye” her hair if the team raises $1,000.
The younger Bullock is seeking a full-time teaching position.
Although she’s somewhat concerned about going into a job interview or a new teaching position with a new, much shorter hairstyle, she said it will be worth it — should that be the case.
“I know that it would only help me to grow as a person, to encounter the reactions that could occur,” she said.
While this is her father’s first experience with Relay for Life, Amanda Bullock has participated once before.
“I am doing this challenge out of nothing but respect. I also want people to know how easy it is to donate hair to Locks of Love, and (normally) it doesn’t require you to shave your head!”
Bullock’s team’s Web site is at:
http://www.acsevents.org/relay/il/cumberland/nielbullock.
Contact Dawn Schabbing at dschabbing@jg-tc.com or at 238-6864.
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