Wigs For Kids Participates at 2013 National Senior Games July 20-21 before 7/27 "WFK Day at the Zoo"

CLEVELAND - July 17, 2013 - PRLog -- Wigs for Kids is teaming up with the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission to co-promote the 2013 National Senior Games (July 19-Aug 1) and the 8^th Annual Wigs For Kids Day at the Zoo on July 27.  Wigs for Kids will present programs on the main stage at the National Senior Games “Village” in the new Cleveland Convention Center on Saturday, July 20, from 10-11 a.m., and on Sunday, July 21, from 1-2 p.m.  During those times, volunteers from local salons will style the hair of Village visitors for free-will donations to Wigs for Kids.  

Wigs for Kids, headquartered in Westlake, Ohio is a national non-profit organization that provides customized, human hair replacement systems at no charge for children experiencing hair loss due to chemotherapy, radiation, alopecia, burns, accidents, or other medical circumstances.

Among the presenters at the Senior Games Village will be Wigs for Kids Founder, President & CEO Jeffrey Paul, and Mary Pavicic, a Euclid resident, marathon runner, and Honors Biology teacher at Aurora High School.  Ms. Pavicic was the “Overall Female Winner” of the Wigs for Kids 5K run in 2011.  She was recently inspired to donate 12 inches of her hair by one of her former students, Annie Robinson, who will also be a presenter at the Village.  Annie, 17, is a wig recipient with hair loss from Alopecia Areata and is the Wigs for Kids National Youth Spokesperson.  Annie also recently won the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage’s Grand Scholarship prize (a $50,000 college scholarship) for her entry in the “Stop the Hate: Youth Speak Out!” essay contest.

During the July 20-21 weekend, Village visitors can also register for the upcoming “Wigs for Kids Day at the Zoo” at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, 3900 Wildlife Way.  In addition to its traditional 5K Run, one-mile “fun walk,” and hair cut-a-thon, the July 27th event gives attendees free admission to the Zoo and Rain Forest.

WKYC TV-3 news reporter Jennifer Lindgren will emcee the event. Mark Roozen, a strength and conditioning coach for over 25 years at the high school, college and professional level (including with the Cleveland Browns), will demonstrate how to avoid running injuries, and jazzercise instructors will lead warm-up exercises.  

Other features and performers include “Dream Entertainment” DJ Jeff Edwards, a “Kids Zone,” face-painting, clowns, and costumed volunteers from the “Super Heroes to Kids in Ohio” organization.  Among the super heroes they will portray are American Dream, Captain America, Cat Woman, Thor, Valkyrie, Wolverine, and Wonder Woman.  

Stylists from La Barberia Institute and Salon, located in Cleveland’s “Little Italy” area, will provide a free styling and blow-dry for hair donors.  Halle Ladd Photography will take studio-quality photos of attendees of all ages (next to “super heroes” if requested) in exchange for free-will donations to Wigs for Kids.

In addition to the free day at the Zoo and Rain Forest, walkers and runners get a complimentary T-shirt, a race bag, and refreshments.  The registration fee for each walker or runner is $20 in advance ($10 for children 10 years old and younger) or $25 after 9 a.m. on July 26 or on the day of the event. People who want to just be spectators can attend for $10, and attendees who will donate their hair at the event can enter for free.  Registration begins at 7 a.m.; the 5K run at 8:30 a.m.; the one-mile walk at 8:35 a.m. for walking team members, and at 8:40 for families and individual walkers.

Family Heritage Life Insurance Company of America is the event’s signature sponsor.  Other major sponsors include Chick-fil-A, which will provide sandwiches and other refreshments for the participants, and “The Fish” Radio (95.5 FM), which is putting together “Team Fish” to walk and run at the event.  

For more information, including registering and a detailed schedule for the July 27^th event, call 440.333-4433, visit http://www.wigsforkids.org, or email msokol@wigsforkids.org.