As a hair stylist, Lorraine Frustace has heard the heartbreaking words from many clients over the years: “I have cancer.”
In addition to providing complimentary services for women who are losing their hair due to cancer treatments, Frustace, owner of Shine Salon in Ossining, also has a place to refer women seeking support.
“You become part of their lives because one of the things that they”™re losing is one of the things you help make look best,” Frustace said. “The women who come in here are so incredibly strong. We”™re fortunate that women come to us and ask for advice and we can help them and refer them to Support Connection.”
Coinciding with breast cancer awareness month in October, Frustace”™s salon has a “12 weeks of giving” campaign to benefit Yorktown Heights-based Support Connection, a nonprofit that offers counseling and support to women diagnosed with breast and ovarian cancer.
“We”™re doing different things weekly to donate money to Support Connection,” Frustace said. “We”™re more than happy to give; we really have a lot of supportive and committed clientele.” ?The Gym in Armonk is also doing its part to increase donations this October; the fitness center has set aside two treadmills wrapped in pink ribbon for clients to “run for funds,” with The Gym donating $1 for every mile run, and selling pink hair extensions.
“Two ladies here at the club went to Byram Hills High School last week and raised over $900 putting pink hair extensions in the kids”™ hair,” said Dana Hawryluk, membership director of The Gym.
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In addition, The Gym is selling T-shirts for $10, the proceeds which benefit Support Connection as well as Northern Westchester Hospital”™s Women”™s Imaging Center.
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“It”™s kind of nice because the whole community either has pink hair or is wearing one of our T-shirts,” Hawryluk said.
The Gym is also hosting a kids”™ costume party, a wine tasting and a Chinese auction to raise money for charity this month.
“They are not only helping us to raise money, but they”™re letting people know that we”™re here,” said Katherine Quinn, executive director of Support Connection. “The best way to reach people is to get into the community where the everyday person is going to be, and I think it”™s absolutely critical that we”™re out in the trenches to let people know that we”™re here. People don”™t have to go through breast cancer alone; we are here to give support.”
Quinn said she is confident that the nonprofit”™s annual Support-A-Walk, held Oct. 4 at FDR Park in Yorktown Heights, raised about $200,000; almost half the organization”™s annual budget of less than $500,000.
“What I love about the businesses we”™re working with is that if they say they”™re donating the proceeds, they really are,” Quinn said. “Running a successful business is about more than just offering good products. I”™m overwhelmed and incredibly touched at the outpouring of support.”
Shine Salon at 161 Main St. Ossining is hosting a cut-a-thon Nov. 21, with full proceeds going to Support Connection. To book an appointment, call 762-6675.
