The first time was intimidating. Now it’s liberating.

Mandy Randolph cut her hair off for Locks of Love 11 years ago after one of her third grade students asked her to participate.

“I thought, ‘my hair is my security, but if this little girl could do it, then I could too,’” said Randolph, who now teaches the Farm to Classroom program at Orcas School. “I was so scared I was trembling, but as soon as it was done and I ran my fingers through it, I thought it was amazing.”

At the time, Randolph and her student cut their hair in honor of Marny Gaylord, a teacher who was being treated for breast cancer.

“Marny survived and her hair looks better than ever,” Randolph said.

This January marked the third time she trimmed her tresses for the nonprofit, which makes hairpieces for disadvantaged children, and Randolph says it is always “freeing.” The sections of hair she sends in are between 12 and 17 inches long.

This year, Randolph was joined by student Willow White. The two will send in their hair together with a photo.

“I was explaining to the kids how my hair has had all these adventures without me. That’s the fun part,” Randolph said. “I encouraged them all to consider donating their hair if it was untreated and long enough when it was time to cut.”

White, who is 11, says she has always had long hair and wanted to cut it off for Locks of Love for “a long time” after her cousin participated in the program. The organization provides wigs and hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada under age 21 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any kind of diagnosis.

“I like my haircut, but it was a lot to cut! It was 10 inches,” White said. “I am happy because I know I am helping someone.”

For more information about Locks of Love, go to http://www.locksoflove.org/.