By Jean Schurman

Scott Stiegler, a sixth grade teacher at Florence, didn’t set out to have a head full of hair; he grew his hair out in support of a family friend who was battling cancer. His cause became a school’s cause, and eventually included an Olympic athlete, a Blackfeet chief, and a few friends, neighbors and others who found the cause, growing hair out for wigs for cancer patients, to be one they wanted to be a part of.
“Growing your hair is a personal thing. It takes patience,” said Steigler. “You’re giving something to someone you don’t even know.”
For 145 people, this cause has become their cause. The Florence Hair Club began over a year ago and by the end of the school year, there were 115 people signed up to donate their hair. On September 30th, 145 people had joined the club and 59 had already cut and donated their hair, some more than once. The list included school kids of all ages, teachers, and parents. It even included a woman who was having a bad hair day who found out about the program and decided to donate.
As the Florence gym filled with students, the Drum Line charged up the energy. Hairdressers from Missoula, Stevensville and Florence were on hand to make the cuts. Plastic bags were labeled and ready to be filled, one per donor. Cammie Edgar of the American Cancer Society spoke of where hair could be of best use, and which companies charge for wigs and which don’t. The donors were given the choice on where to donate.
Then it was time. Hair was divided into sections, banded and then lopped off. There wasn’t a frown in the gym. As the new, shorter ‘do’s came out, so did the smiles.
The Florence Hair Club didn’t just grow hair for wigs, it taught, and will continue to teach, about selfless giving.