Guest post by Shelby Underwood, TUBC student at our Glendale Heights Campus.
The Beauty Bus Foundation was founded in the memory of Melissa Marantz Nealy who lost her battle with a degenerative neuromuscular disease at twenty-eight years old. The Beauty Bus offers men, women, and children who are chronically or terminally ill a chance to have a day at a salon.
When Melissa was not able to leave her home without help, Founders, Alicia along with Melissa’s cousin, were able to schedule a home beauty service through her networking throughout the salon industry. After seeing the hope and joy that these services brought to Melissa, Alicia along with Melissa’s sister, Wendy Levine, decided to create the Beauty Bus Foundation in order to continue the delivering of the gift of beauty to others who are suffering from serious illness.
As a cosmetologist I know the cost of services at even the most basic of salons and for these people with such high medicine bills it’s rare if ever they get pampered. On the day that I went we were scheduled to be there from eight forty-five to three, these hours alone show how dedicated the charity is to getting as many people in as they can. The event was held at Cantigny Park in Wheaton. The event was held for the Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients and their families. According to ALSA.org Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis also known as Lou Gherig’s Disease
This event was mainly held as a day to relax and get some pampering in between all the doctor visits. Many of these people have a difficult time moving and so they also rarely leave the house this was a nice day for some fun in the sun. This event was particularly close to home because my grandmother passed from ALS several years ago so doing any work to helping support these people suffering and work towards finding a cure means so much to my family and myself.
The Beauty Bus Foundation also requests volunteers for the Beauty Buddy position which are people to help the stylists and their guests with anything they need as well as being there to share conversation with them and a smiling face. Many of these women were so excited to be there and to help the guests they really were dedicated to making these people feel welcome in our chairs.
Tricoci University from Glendale Heights was there offering manicure services and haircuts and styles as well. Many of them got a shorter haircut which is growing in popularity in the industry overall it was a positive experience and it is a true showing of the good things that a simple haircut can inspire.