Algonquin salon steps up to help young cancer fighter

Allexis Fetzer of Algonquin is fighting a serious battle for her health, and a local hair salon is doing what it can to support her family.

Fetzer, 13, was diagnosed with papillary thyroid carcinoma, a cancer that attacks the thyroid gland.

On Sunday, the Chicago Street Hair Co. in Algonquin is holding a cutathon fundraiser for Fetzer's family in which stylists will offer $20 haircuts and trims on a day it is normally closed for business.

Appointments are not necessary.

“We're just trying to get as many people as we can because the more haircuts, the more money is donated to the family,” said Jodie Mahaney, one of the hair stylists whose daughter goes to school with Allexis.

The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the hair stylists are all donating their time.

All of the money raised Sunday will go into a fund to help Allexis' family cover their household bills. She lives with her mother Nicole Lampasano, 36, and two younger sisters.

Lampasano works as a server at Chili's in Algonquin and says she has fallen behind on household bills since her oldest daughter got sick.

Allexis was diagnosed with cancer in June and has had three surgeries to remove it, Lampasano said, adding that her daughter still has traces of the cancer in her left armpit, sternum and lungs.

“It was pretty shocking at first, but we try and joke about it as much as we can, as weird as that sounds,” Lampasano said. “To look at her, aside from the scars on her neck, you really wouldn't know any of this is going on.”

Allexis is an eighth-grader at Algonquin Middle School and been out of school ever since she was diagnosed. She now works with a tutor.

She is due for one more treatment at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago, and if all goes well Allexis could be back in school by November, Lampasano said.

Allexis is excited about catching up with her friends at school and hopes to see some of them at the cutathon.

“I'm happy that people are coming,” she said.

Ÿ Chicago Street Hair Company is at 1475 W. Algonquin Road in Algonquin. If you'd like to support Allexis, but can't attend the cutathon Sunday, you can donate money to the family at any Chase Bank. The name on the account is Nicole Lampasano.