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!
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, 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.”™
Whether you donate your hair, send a monetary donation, or shop our store, your valued support helps us reach our goals.
Looking for where you can donate your hair near you? Children With Hair Loss is a non-profit organization that provides wigs for kids and young adults under 21 years old. We accept hair donations nationwide including in Orlando, San Diego, Dallas, Detroit, Chicago, and New York.
