Two young ladies in Chesapeake showed Lawrence County this week that you don’t have to have a lot of money to make a difference in someone’s life.

Thursday, October 12, 2000

Two young ladies in Chesapeake showed Lawrence County this week that you don’t have to have a lot of money to make a difference in someone’s life.

All you really need is a good heart and the ability to see beyond yourself.

Miranda Eastham and Joy Swann have been growing their hair for many years and were pretty proud of their locks.

Then, one day, they found out about Locks of Love and Wigs for Kids, programs that found volunteers willing to donate some of their hair for wigs for children with cancer.

A 12-inch haircut later, and the girls had sent a special package on the way to the charity.

There will be many people who will give more money to charity this year with much more fanfare than this pair of do-gooders received.

But there will be few more heartfelt gifts than this one from a pair of students who just wanted to make sure no child would have to endure teasing on top of chemotherapy just because he or she did not have any hair.

To give up something that means much to you because someone needs it more is a story that is getting rarer as society gets more and more me-centered.

Miranda and Joy can teach us all a lot about what it means to care and to put others’ needs before your own.

These special young ladies did their families and their school proud.

And, just a little side note, their efforts have made a difference in another way, too. Since their story appeared in the newspaper, several other volunteers have come forward to donate their "extra" hair.

Now, even more children will get the help they need.

Good work Miranda and Joy.