By By MARCIA STEFFENS / Niles Daily Star
NILES – When Lauren Rakowski starts school she will have a new look.
The six-year-old is entering Edwardsburg Primary School this fall.
Lauren's father Mike found the Niles home on Brush Road when they were looking to move from South Bend, Ind. and have more land.
"We fell in love with it," Patti said of her home. She works for an architect in South Bend and her husband for an electrical distributor.
She decided, with her mother Patti Rakowski, to donate some of her long hair to the Locks of Love.
The nonprofit organization accepts clean hair which is at least 10 inches long. The hair is made into hair pieces for children who have lost their hair due to medical conditions.
Patti and her friend, Patty Stoffl, a stylist from Granger, Ind., measured Lauren's long tresses to make sure they left enough. The final piece was one foot long.
"The hair is not to touch the floor," Lauren's mother said.
Lauren's hair has been growing this year with the intent to donate a piece to the organization, she added. She did have one other haircut, when her mother cut about seven inches off last year.
"Lauren loved school. She is so anxious to go back. She goes to Sunday school and said she wishes there was Saturday school," her mother added.
Lauren is the granddaughter of Marlene and Ralph Rakowski and Dolly and Tony Trozzolo, all of South Bend, Ind.
For more information about the Locks of Love program, they may call call (561) 963-1677.