Delphi salons donate money to friend with cancer

DELPHI, Ind. (WLFI) - The clippers are on and the hair dryers are going. It sounds like a typical Saturday at the Studio 106 Salon and Day Spa in Delphi.

Yet, the clients were all part of a cut-a-thon for a good cause.

"Everybody needs a haircut," said cut-a-thon organizer Mendy Helmerick. "If it's just a donation, you can get a cheaper haircut, and help someone in your community.

All proceeds from Saturday's hair cuts, bake sale and merchandise sales go to the family of Robin Flanagan. Flanagan was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer last month.

For Salon 106 owner Jill Roth, it was an easy choice to join the cut-a-thon.

"Robin is a good friend," said Roth. "Carrie has been a good friend of mine all my life. I was in."

Flanagan planned to be at the cut-a-thon, but was unexpectedly admitted into the hospital Friday. Family members represented her Saturday, including daughter, Carrie Gardiner.

"She wanted me to stay here today," said Flanagan. "I was going to go to the hospital. She wanted me to stay here and support everyone who has done this for us. Let everyone know we appreciate everything, and just thank the whole community."

It wasn't just Salon 106 raising money, two other Delphi salons, Sassy's and Designing Edge, also opened to help Flanagan.

"You never find a town, a city, where salons come together," said Helmerick. "Usually, it's kind of cut-throat, and they work against each other because everyone wants those clients. This town, they didn't do that. They all said, 'Yep, I'm in.'"

"There is an easier way to be a team than not," said Helmerick. "It's easier to all come together and help. It's for the purpose and the person."

Hair stylists expected to stay busy for the afternoon event because of the reputation Flanagan has in the community.

"She's funny, outgoing; a hugger," said Gardiner. "She doesn't know a stranger."