I keep hope in my heart that someday they will find a cure and save the lives of all the people living with Cystic Fibrosis, including my son.  Please donate today.  Thank You!

Here is the story behind the rose pin-ups:

65 Roses” is what some children with cystic fibrosis (CF) call their disease because the words are much easier for them to pronounce.

Mary G. Weiss became a volunteer for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in 1965 after learning that her three little boys had CF. Her duty was to call every civic club, social and service organization seeking financial support for CF research. Mary’s 4-year-old son, Richard, listened closely to his mother as she made each call.

The Weiss brothers, Richard, 5; Arthur, 7 and Anthony, 16 months.

After several calls, Richard came into the room and told his Mom, “I know what you are working for.” Mary was dumbstruck because Richard did not know what she was doing, nor did he know that he had cystic fibrosis. With some trepidation, Mary asked, “What am I working for, Richard?” He answered, “You are working for 65 Roses.” Mary was speechless.

He could not see the tears running down Mary’s cheeks as she stammered, “Yes Richard, I’m working for 65 Roses.”

Since 1965, the term “65 Roses” has been used by children of all ages to describe their disease. But, making it easier to say does not make CF any easier to live with. The “65 Roses” story has captured the hearts and emotions of all who have heard it. The rose, appropriately the ancient symbol of love, has become a symbol of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Stylist Deb Gehrke teamed up with one of her favorite clients, Mrs. Jennifer Peterson, Media Specialist at Butte des Morts Elementary to create a one of kind Hair Raising Event.  (This is turning into an annual thing…click here to see last year’s video reveal!)

Penny jars with mug shots of the Super PTO President and Parent Volunteer Extraordianaire attached are stationed in the library at the school, as well as at the reception desk inside Grassroots a Salon.

At school, students are bringing their loose change to drop into the penny jar of their choice…voting with their change, to get one of the two ‘in need of a makeover’ candidates the change they’re after.

Stop in to the salon to see the candidates!  (One has a whole lot of hair…and well, one doesn’t)  …and if you have any loose change, take a look at the mug shots on the side of the penny jar…you’ll see from their expressions that dropping your $ in the jar will be much appreciated!  Change for Change!  How GREAT is that?

Change (paper money work great, too!) is being collected between now and next Saturday (Feb. 19th) when the WINNER will be announced and the MAKEOVER will take place.

Deb has her creative wheels spinning and is honored and excited to be involved in this brilliant hair raising event.

BIG Thanks to Jen for her magnificent commitment and unwavering creative and organizational skills!

I feel very passionate about this walk because it effects me personally.  My daughter Tajah has Down Syndrome.  9 1/2 years ago, she was born into our family and changed our lives forever.  Tajah has opened our eyes to all the simple joys in life, and taught our family much more about compassion and reality than we could ever imagine. We wouldn’t have it any other way. Tajah and I along with her family and friends will be participating in this Walk, which will take place Saturday, Oct 2 2010 at Riverside Park in Neenah.  Please stop by the salon and show your support or join us on the Walk.

Thanks to everyone so far for your generous donations, they are greatly appreciated.  For more information please go to DSAWFOXCITIES.ORG.

I am blessed to have family and friends in my life.  I am thankful for everything that I have been given. Kelly Hietpas

Here is a letter Eli has written, asking for our support:

Hello!  I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes on November 2, 2009.  This will be my first year participating in JDRF’s Walk to Cure Diabetes, along with one-half million other walkers across the country, as we try to reach our goal of raising $100 million.  My mom, dad, many other family members, and friends will be walking by my side to help me find my cure for diabetes.  Each day I have to receive a minimum of 4 injections along with at least 4 finger pokes to figure out my blood sugar levels.  With your support, they will hopefully find a cure in my lifetime, and I won’t have to go through these shots every day!

Type 1, or juvenile diabetes, is a devastating disease that affects millions of people, a large and growing percentage of them children.

There is some good news, though.  For the first time, scientists are predicting that we CAN expect to see a cure will within our lifetime!

Now, more than ever, you can make a crucial difference.  Won’t you please give to JDRF as generously as possible? Together we can make the cure a reality!

Thank you so much for any help you can provide.

With Love,

Eli

If you would like give a donation, please write a check to JDRF, stop in at Grassroots and you can leave it with Kara Schuh, stylist.  Thanks for your support.

Ever wonder just how to give short hair that added extra flair for your Holiday parties?

Want to put a little JOY in your Holiday ‘Do?

Debra Gehrke, stylist at Grassroots a Salon, shares some tips on Amy Hanten’s ‘Living with Amy’ show on Fox 11.

Tracey Jenks gets her JOY on!

Here’s the video that aired on today’s show:

Thanks to Amy Hanten for inviting me on the show!  Great FUN as always!

Be sure to watch ‘Living with Amy’ this coming Friday morning (Dec. 18th) between 9 and 10 a.m. for another Festive Hair segment featuring stylists Deann Kelley and Debra Gehrke of Grassroots a Salon.

A great client of mine, Jennifer Peterson is the media specialist at Butte des Morts Elementary in Menasha. When she returned to school following her hair appointment with me, her fellow staff members responded with ooo’s and aaah’s. They stated they wished they could get a makeover too.

Hair Raising Change for Change Makeover Contest

Say no more. Jennifer and I whipped up a fancy little makeover contest… Well, really Jennifer did the whipping up and organizing of the contest, all I had to do was show up this past Saturday to make the actual makeover happen!

Makeover Winner Andie Plachetka Before

Makeover Winner Andie Plachetka After

We created a video of the event and we’re excited to share it with you here! Details of the contest are mentioned within the video. (And if you’re curious about more of the back story on how this whole little makeover contest sprouted from a tweet on Twitter that led Jennifer to me in the first place, you’ll want to click here to read all about it!)

Thanks to Jennifer Peterson, Andie Plachetka~our makeover winner, & the staff & students at Butte des Morts Elementary who participated in this JOYful FUNd-raising event benefiting Toys for Tots.

And now… Enjoy the Video!

We sure had FUN creating it!

Change for Change Makeover with Debra Gehrke from Mark Gehrke on Vimeo.

Video created by:  Mark Gehrke of Mandala Life Media

PS~ Mrs. Plachetka… You were a MOST FUN Makeover candidate!  Thanks for being so willing to change and for being so naturally gorgeous and an all around lovely person.

Makeover Video Fun x 2

Mrs. Peterson video tracked the contest start to finish as well.  Here’s her super fun rendition:

Ever wonder if being on Twitter is worth your time?  Ever wonder why anyone would want to tweet?

Stylist at Grassroots & Joy of Brilliance Coach

I’ve been on Twitter as @debsoul for almost a year now.  My first tweet was on New Year’s day, 2009.  I love it.  I’ve found friends so uniquely matched to my interests from all around the world.

One of the things I love the most about Twitter is the generous, giving nature of the Tweeps I meet.

On a recent Saturday I had the pleasure of meeting one fine tweep in person at the salon.  She happened to tweet that she needed a new ‘do.  I was already at the salon bringing forth the full beauty of another client when Mark (@kalalea), my dedicated hubby saw @hostageek’s tweet.  He wrote back to Jen and mentioned I had an opening if she was available a little later that day.

History in the Making

And that’s how we embarked on this history in the making!

@hostageek loved her hair…we gave her curly locks a fresh layered cut and added some spicy, warm chocolate haircolor for this wonderful fall moving into the holiday season.  Upon returning to school the next Monday (she’s a librarian) she was met with ooo’s and ahhh’s and some ‘oh, I wish I could do that too’…which led to  a conversation about getting a makeover from me.

You see, I was the original Monday Morning Makeover Queen on Fox11.  Some may remember that. 

Jennifer Twittered me to tell me of the excited buzz around the school and to ask if I was interested in doing a makeover for one of the teachers.

I emphatically replied, “Heck yeah!  Let’s make it some sort of fun contest that also makes a difference…”  And @hostageek ran with it!

Makeover Contest Makes a Difference

Librarians must be creative…at least this one is.  There are eight teachers who decided they wanted to compete to win the makeover.  Jen’s been documenting the entire process.  She came up with a groovy theme and decided that a penny drive was a fun, easy way for the students to get involved in just which teacher wins the makeover.  All the monies collected will go to Toys for Tots!

Each day the pennies (and some larger coins and even a couple bills!) continue to roll in.  The students excitedly add to the bottles and the teachers are eagerly awaiting the final tally on December 3.

One teacher openly talked of her devotion as a Bears fan last week…that led to more pennies in her jar.  Apparently being a Bears fan in Packer country can work in your favor if you’re the one who wants the makeover!

Just One Seed

I love what’s sprouted here.  Something FUN for everyone!  The students are enrolled in making a difference by giving their hard earned pennies to a good cause (Toys for Tots) while they work hard to get a makeover for their favorite teacher.

Thanks to Twitter, Jen and I met…and are now continuing to enJOY our connection while creating a new experience for a teacher friend and making a difference along the way!

@hostageek, you rock!  I’m looking forward to Makeover Day on Dec. 5th at Grassroots a Salon!!  Woo-Hoo!!!  Way to shine your Brilliance.

Take a look at today’s video sharing the up-to-the-minute Hair Raising Makeover progress:

Want to Participate?

If you’d like to donate pennies to one of these fine teachers to help them win the makeover, bring your pennies to the library at Butte Des Morts Elementary school before Dec. 3, 2009.

We’ll be documenting the makeover itself on Makeover Day, December 5, 2009 at Grassroots a Salon.  Stay tuned for a follow up post sharing the highlights!

If you’d like to learn more about me, here’s my BIO.  Do you have a makeover contest idea?  Let’s here it!  Email me at: debra[at]soulitude[dot]com