INGLE BROTHERS DONATE HAIR FOR NEEDY
 

MONTEVALLO --- Brothers Parker and Hunter Ingle, both of whom are members of the University of Montevallo soccer team, went to great lengths to donate their hair to provide hairpieces for children suffering from long-term hair loss. In fact, the Ingles each donated more than a foot of their blonde locks to help financially disadvantaged youngsters who have cancer or other medical problems.

 “Winning by a hair” has taken on new meaning as the brothers have won admiration, respect and accolades from family members, teammates at UM and others in the community who have learned of their gift to “Locks of Love,” a non-profit organization offering hairpieces and wigs to needy children under the age of 18 who are facing long-term — or permanent — hair loss from any medical diagnosis.

“‘Locks of Love’ is a great organization that helps so many people who are in need. To me, it was the least I could do since I had such long hair, plus we have had a history of family members who have had cancer in the past,” said Parker, a Montevallo senior. “People’s reactions have been very positive. Friends and family who know me pretty well, know that I like to help others, so this was something that was not very surprising to them.”

 Hunter also has a penchant for helping others. “I had the hair to give and I knew someone could use it,” he explained. “I learned about the program a couple of years back when Parker donated his hair the first time. I have heard only good things from people. My teammates are brutally honest, and they would tell me if they did not like it. I didn’t tell anyone I was doing it, so I got a lot of double takes the first couple of days.”

 Both Hunter and Parker went home to Tupelo, Miss., to have their hair cut. “I got in touch with the lady who cuts my hair back home, but she had recently quit cutting hair,” said Parker. “I told her what I was doing, and she was more than happy to cut it for me. She even came over to my house. In order to send the hair off, we had to put our hair in a pony tail and put it in a zip-lock bag.”

Their mother, Jackie, said that “Locks of Love” now requires donated hair to be at least 12 inches long. Jackie and her husband, Joey, have been supportive of their sons’ choices in hairstyles — and of their choice to donate it to help others. “My husband and I did hear a lot of flack and remarks through the years about the guys’ hair from family and friends. What they did not realize is Parker and Hunter followed the rules we set for them. We always felt they earned their hair!”

Jackie said the importance of family has always been stressed in their household. “We have had so many to suffer from different types of cancer, it only seems appropriate that they would want to give in honor of them to an organization like ‘Locks of Love,”’ she said. “My advice to any parent (and this is coming from a 25-year veteran child-care provider) is to choose your battles. At the Ingle home, hair length was never one of them!”

Parker agreed. “My father and mother have been very cool about letting me have my long hair without any fuss. When I donated my hair in January, my mom also donated hers . . . so it was kind of a special day for both of us.”

“My family loved that I was doing something to make someone happy,” chimed in Hunter. “I decided a year into growing it out that I wanted to donate it. It took me another year to get it to the required length.”

This fall, Parker competed in his second and final season with the Falcons. He competed in 23 matches, starting in 22 of them. The 6-0 defender was part of a Falcon squad that won the South Region championship and had an opportunity to compete in the national semifinals of the 2007 NCAA Division II Men’s Soccer Championships.

A graduate of Tupelo High School where he was a standout soccer player, Parker is a biology major at Montevallo. He came to UM from Hinds Community College where he was captain of the soccer team for two years. He also was named to the NJCAA All-Region XIII Team for two years. Last year, he was named to the Gulf South Conference Honor Roll.

A 6-0 redshirt midfielder, Hunter was a two-time All-Area selection and competed on the state championship team at THS. He and Parker were members of the Tupelo Futbol Club where Hunter was team captain for nine years. His squad was state champion from 2003-2005 and a finalist in 2006. His team was also Premier League Champion from 2004-2006. Hunter is an education major at Montevallo.

The brothers said they plan to donate their hair to “Locks of Love” again. Parker said he is “planning on donating my hair until I start losing it…let’s hope that day doesn’t come anytime soon or ever, for that matter. I love my long hair, but it will always grow back, so as long as I can donate, I’m going to.”

   
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