Locks of Love: Teenager Lilliana Garca of Lehigh Acres is shown with all smiles after more than a foot of her long black hair was cut off last Friday to be given to Locks of Love which uses it to make wigs and hair replacement pieces. Her parents and friends accompanied her to have the hair cut. Photo by Mel Toadvine

For Lilliana Garca, 17, of Lehigh Acres, it was something she’s been looking to do for a long time now, getting her beautiful black hair cut and donating it to Locks of Love of Florida.

Her mother and other friends were there to see it done, too. And after some 12 or more inches of hair were cut off, Lilliana gave a big laugh and smile.

Friends were snapping pictures and they had even invited local TV to be there to witness the “big event.”

“I wanted to do that for others, to help, like with people who have cancer and have lost their hair when they receive treatment,” the teenager said.

Cutting her hair was Denise Rosa, who is co-owner along with her sister, Cindy Rosa, of

Reflections Total Hair Care at 3210 Lee Blvd.

Denise said they often cut long hair from young women who decide to donate it for such causes of Locks of Love.

Many patients who receive cancer treatment often lose their hair and many of them are able to get wigs and hair replacements from Locks of Love.

Lilliana seemed as if it was one of the more happy moments of her life. Confined to a wheelchair, she was excited about having her hair cut. In fact, getting her hair cut was a great excitement for Lilliana, her mother said.

“It’s what I really want to do,” she laughed.

She lives with her parents in Lehigh on Waterview Ave.