JAY — Kiara Hurley, 11, of Wilton, wanted to do something special to honor her sister, Savannah, who died from cancer in 2008 at age 7, and to help girls to get wigs when they lose their hair.

“I’d like other girls to have hair,” Kiara said, when they go through an illness and treatment. Her sister, who was nicknamed “Princess Savannah” for her love of princesses, fought cancer for three years before she lost the battle.

Kiara and her mother, Melissa Hurley, a photographer, have organized an event for Monday, Jan. 20, at Jo’s Hair Fashion in Jay to get hair for wigs for girls and women. Hurley said she found that wigs for children were very expensive when the family was looking for one for Savannah.

In January 2013, she asked people to let their hair grow for a year. Kiara recently had 14 inches of her locks cut off to donate to the cause.

On Monday, Hurley said she will set up at Jo’s on Main Street (Route 4) with a background and her photo equipment to take before-and-after photos of people who come in to donate hair. The 5-by-7-inch photos will be free.

Donors have to have at least 12 inches of hair to cut for girls and 8 or more inches for wigs for women, she said.

The hair will be donated to nonprofit Wigs for Kids and Pantene Beautiful Lengths.

Those donating hair will get a free, simple haircut at the salon, she said. It won’t be styled.

People who would like to donate must call Jo’s at 897-4275 to set up an appointment. The event will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. People need to have clean, dry hair, Hurley said.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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