Children With Hair Loss is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization that provides human hair replacements at no cost to children and young adults facing medically-related hair loss. When a child's hair is lost due to Cancer treatments, Alopecia, Trichotillomania, Burns, etc., the painful effects are far deeper than just cosmetic. Each year, the number of children requesting our hair replacements increases and with your support, we can continue to increase the number of children we are able to help in the future!
Our Founder
Regina Villemure, a former cosmetology instructor, hairstylist and hair replacement specialist with a master certification with the American Hair Loss Council, brings years of hair industry experience to Children With Hair Loss.
Regina founded CWHL after her niece, Sarah, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at age three. Sarah underwent chemotherapy for five years. Thankfully we get to celebrate that Sarah is a survivor, a school teacher, a wife and mom too!
Throughout Sarah's treatments, Regina saw many children in the hospital who had lost their hair or who were wearing adult-sized synthetic wigs. With her hair industry experience, Regina knew that human hair replacements look the most natural on children, but also that they are very expensive. She realized that most families were unable to afford them, and she wanted to help! She immediately made it her mission to "Cover Young Heads to Heal Young Hearts."™
Our History
CWHL opened in September 2000. After researching, we didn’t find any other organizations that were giving human hair replacements to children at no cost. CWHL’s mission and goals were to never charge a family at a time when they need the most help. After years of intense fund raising, CWHL was able to purchase their first building in 2005. The headquarters resides in South Rockwood, Michigan in an old renovated fire station. Originally, CWHL’s focus was on children fighting cancer, until we found out that there were a lot of other reasons why children lost hair including Alopecia, burns, Trichotillomania and other rare diseases and disorders. To this day, Children With Hair Loss has never charged a child. Currently, we provide a customized human hair replacement and care kit to over 600 children a year!
Sarah Today
Sarah During Chemo
Sarah's Story
Regina’s niece, Sarah, is the original inspiration of the charity, Children With Hair Loss. When Sarah was just 3 years old, she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphblastic Leukemia. She spent many of her young days in the hospital, during which she went through several chemotherapy treatments. As a result, she eventually lost her hair. Her aunt, Regina often accompanied her to hospital visits and treatments. This gave Regina a first-hand view of Sarah, and other children undergoing radiation treatments who had no hair, or who were wearing ill-fitting, adult-sized, second-hand wigs. Regina was a hairdresser by trade, and she searched for a high-quality, human hair wig that Sarah, and other kids would feel good about wearing. She was unable to find any in the market, or any charities that would provide them for free. It was at that time, sitting with Sarah in the hospital, that Regina saw the need to start a charity that would provide free, quality, human hair replacements for children who had lost their hair due to medical reasons. Sarah is now in her thirties and is the mother of three beautiful children of her own. Throughout her life, Sarah has watched Children With Hair Loss grow from just an idea, into a large-scale national charity, and she has continued to be a proud and steadfast advocate for the charity.
Regina Villemure
CEO / Founder
Christine Wong
COO/CMO
Debbie Sieb
Accounting
Patty French
Child Advocate
Morgan Brancheau
Wig Stylist
Angel Gibson
Director of Philanthropy