Lopping off locks for those without

Deepa Bharath

Ann Archie has cut her hair maybe once in all of her life.

But the 40-year-old Newport Beach resident did not hesitate to

chop off 33 inches of her long blond hair last week for the benefit

of cancer patients.

Archie was joined by her two daughters, Samantha, 9, and Ricki, 8,

who also cut their cascading, blond hair on Dec. 19.

Sixty-four inches of hair donated by the three -- who call

themselves the “Archie chicks” -- will soon be shipped off to Locks

of Love, a Florida nonprofit that provides hairpieces to

disadvantaged children suffering from long-term medical hair loss.

Most of the children suffer from cancer.

But the event was extra special for the Archies because Ann’s

husband, Dave, is a cancer survivor himself.

Dave Archie was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1992. The

cancer relapsed in 1995.

“The second time was really hard,” Ann Archie said. “Dave had to

go through massive chemotherapy.”

But her husband has been cancer-free now for more than five years.

“Five years is a big mark for cancer survivors,” she said. “This

is a way for our family to celebrate and give back.”

Ann came up with the idea about a year ago, she said.

“All three of us have had long hair practically our whole lives,”

she said. “After the haircut, it feels pretty light. It feels

different. But for all of us, it’s been a phenomenal experience. It’s

left us with a great feeling.”

The Archies have also raised more than $14,000 to benefit the

Lance Armstrong Foundation, founded by and named after the cyclist

and Tour de France champion.

The trio got free haircuts at Studio La Rue in Cannery Village

from owner Margie Talley, a breast cancer survivor herself.

“Being a cancer survivor and a hairdresser, this has been a

natural thing for me to do,” she said.

Talley said she thought the Archies had a good time doing it.

“The little girls were excited,” she said. “And Ann was just

caught up in the spirit of it.”