This mother and daughter from Minneapolis each donated about 12 inches of hair July 12 to be made into wigs for children who have lost their hair in their battles against cancer.

"We thought it would be a really good gift," Mary Beth said. "I look for ways to be involved in things and for my children to learn compassion ... Callie was so willing."

Mary Beth noted that it was 11-year-old Callie's idea to donate her hair. Callie was inspired by a newspaper article about another girl who gave her hair to be made into a wig.

"I thought it was a good cause," Callie said.

Callie had been growing her hair since second grade.

"It was down to my waist," she said. Now her hair hangs just above her shoulders.

Her mother said Callie had never had a substantial hair cut. When the hair stylist at the Alpha Hair Salon cut off the fat braid, Mary Beth said, "That was the really emotional part."

But Callie was hardly phased by the big cut. She said she has no regrets.

Mary Beth said, "I thought she'd be hesitant and need to think it over, but she instantly said 'yes.'"

Then the salon co-owner Brenda Elsagher cut Mary Beth's long braid off. Mary Beth's hair had also reached her waist, but now it only reaches her chin.

"It grows fast and it's just hair," she said. "I'm not that attached to it."

Five years ago, Mary Beth in a similar fashion had two long braids cut off. She has since saved those braids, but when she went into Alpha to donate her hair July 12, she brought along one of the braids that was cut off five years ago to donate as well.

"So Brenda could harvest me twice," she said.

According to Mary Beth, Elsagher has been cutting her hair for years and was the one who told her about Locks of Love, a non-profit organization in Florida that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children with medical hair loss.

Mary Beth and Callie were two of nine people who donated their hair at Alpha on July 12. Elsagher will continue her drive for braids through the rest of the summer.

Elsagher is a cancer survivor herself and donates much time and energy to cancer research. She is designing a cookbook for cancer patients called "Cooking Up a Cure for Cancer." For the book, cancer survivors are submitting their favorite recipes and quotes.

She also has coordinated four teams out of her salon to walk in the Bloomington Relay for Life. Last year her group raised $14,000. Elsagher said she hopes they hit $20,000 this year.

The Relay will be held at Lincoln Stadium, 8900 Queen Ave. S., through the night of Aug. 3 to the morning of Aug. 4.

The opening ceremony begins at 6 p.m. highlighted by a speech given by cancer survivor Scot Johnson and his son Parker, 2, who was diagnosed with cancer at four months old.

After the ceremony, attending cancer survivors will complete the first lap known as the "Walk of Courage."

"It is really quite moving," said Kim Gohman, income development senior specialist of the American Cancer Society.

But the night will also be festive, Gohman said. As the walkers set out, a band called The Weekenders will start up and play until about 9 p.m. From 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. there will be a disc jockey.

Every hour starting at 8 p.m. will be a theme lap with themes such as western, pajama party and the Twins.

"People are encouraged to dress up crazy for those laps," Gohman said.

A children's activity area and a cancer education booth will be set up during the evening. Daimler-Chrysler Corp. will conduct at national test drive on-site and will donate $10 for each test drive taken.

"There's lots going on," Gohman said.

A silent auction will be held from 6 to 10 p.m., which is open to public bidding. Each team has donated at least one item for the auction.

This year more than 50 teams have signed up with between eight and 15 members per team.

Gohman said, "Each member tries to raise $100 for the fight against cancer."

Team members also sell luminaries to honor cancer survivors and people who have died of cancer. Luminaries will continue to be sold the night of the Relay. Thousands of luminaries will line the track for the Relay, and at dusk they will all be lighted.

According to Gohman, last year the Bloomington Relay for Life raised $145,392. This year the goal is $156,000.

"We're going for it," she said.

The money will go toward funding American Cancer Society programs in research, education, advocacy and patient service.

The public is invited to the Relay. Cancer survivors who attend will receive a T-shirt.

"We want to get as many people there as possible," Gohman said.

To find out how to donate hair, call Alpha Salon at 952-881-3660 or visit them at 7835 Portland Ave. S. For more information about Elsagher's cookbook go to www.brendabringsjoy.com. For more information of how to participate in the Relay, call Kim Gohman at 952-925-6351. To start a team, call Becky Bickett at 952-226-1457