The Hair Farmer - Help Us Help Children with Medical Challenges

Update: January 31, 2013  The Hair Farmer is no more.

 

 

Today was the day of my final hair harvest  to benefit Locks of Love and children with medical challenges.

I had never had long hair before the first time I grew it out about five years ago – during my divorce from my daughter’s mom.

It was a different experience that I cannot fully explain.  Lots of pluses and lots of minuses too.  It was an interesting ride and I am hopeful that it made some impact.

This year has already been full of change for me personally and it’s time for a whole lot more – and I’m more than ready.  Bring it on.

In the meantime, please remember that we can all make a difference to somebody – whether it’s a friend, a relative or somebody we will never get the chance to meet, each of us has the ability to have a positive impact on people’s lives.  It could be as simple as volunteering, donating, arranging events, doing extra special little favors or as big as making service out of your life’s work.  It’s all important and every bit helps.

We should all make the most of this opportunity while we still can.

 

Hi – I’m Hair Farmer Joe.

I’ve cultivated hair (on my own head) for Locks of Love, so that a child can have a full head of hair during and after medical treatment that may have caused theirs to fall out.

Now I am in growing season two.  Last time I grew it for 32 months and donated a 15″ ponytail to Locks of Love.  I’m not sure how long I will grow it this time, but I am looking for a new hair charity to donate to.  Please let me know if you have a suggestion

Here’s a little background and part of my story:

When I was around 12 years old I was in Children’s Orthopedic Hospital in Seattle for an extended stay. The doctors feared I had bone cancer and had me scheduled for surgery to amputate my right arm. At the last moment, my friend Matt’s father, Dr. David B. Shurtleff somehow figured out that I had been injured months before and had a staff bone infection and not cancer. It was Matt who first I ever heard come up with the name “Hair Farmer” and I thought it was appropriate for this project.

While I was in COH, there were many children near my age who came in with Leukemia and didn’t make it out. Some of them were in various stages of chemo and had total hair loss. The good news is that medical technology is even better these days and treatment is usually more effective. So now even more children who undergo certain medical treatments and suffer hairloss can need a head of human hair so they don’t feel so embarrassed or stigmatized.

If you are someone that I meet in a business or networking situation, I apologize in advance if I look a little shaggy or if I’m wearing a baseball hat. It is meant as no-disrespect for you, but as a deep respect for the children who need the hair that I and many others around the world are growing. My goal is to create awareness of the need and then challenge people and businesses to help do what needs to be done to fill the need. A simple act like growing hair for a sick child can make such a positive difference in their lives and it’s something that many people can do without changing their own lifestyles (at least I hope so). I challenge you to become a Hair Farmer too! (It’s good for the environment – fewer trips to the barber or stylist to get your hair cut).

Who is Joe The Hair Farmer?

Joe “The Hair Farmer” Kennedy, aka “The Connector” is a father, an entrepreneur, real estate broker and publisher of BellevueBusinessJournal.com in Bellevue, Washington. Hair Farmer Joe has a desire to help people, businesses and organizations in any way possible, but especially through creating awareness.