[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 51 (Friday, March 23, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E614]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       TRIBUTE TO AUTUMN NICOLE MITCHELL OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GINNY BROWN-WAITE

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 22, 2007

  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to 
recognize an outstanding young woman, Autumn Nicole Mitchell. Audi, as 
she is known to her friends and family, made a decision about 18 months 
ago to help support the Wigs 4 Kids cancer support network by growing 
her hair and then donating it to other children without hair of their 
own.
  Wigs 4 Kids is a charitable organization that provides wigs and 
services to children who have lost their hair due to illness or 
disease. Wigs 4 Kids' main focus is on cancer patients, but also 
includes other young people who face similar challenges that cause hair 
loss, including: alopecia, trichotillomania, lupus, hydrocephalus, 
burns and other disorders. When donating their hair, young girls like 
Audi must go to special salons that know how the hair must be cut in 
order to be made into wigs for others.
  Audi is a typical, healthy young girl who genuinely cares about her 
friends and neighbors. Hearing about the thousands of other children 
who lost their hair to cancer and other diseases, Audi decided on her 
own that she would grow out her hair so that she could donate it to 
Wigs 4 Kids. It takes an exceptional type of young person to recognize 
the needs of others, and then to take affirmative action to help them 
in their time of need.
  Madam Speaker, I have seen the before and after photos of young Audi. 
Once her long, straight hair is made into a wig, I know that her 
beautiful hair will look great on another young child looking to regain 
some of their self-esteem following their hair loss. Audi is to be 
commended for her selfless act and for being an example to other 
children in her school and neighborhood. I know that her generosity 
will be appreciated by the Wigs 4 Kids program, and trust that this act 
of compassion will follow Audi throughout her life.

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