Pink hair extensions benefit breast cancer foundation

Every three minutes a woman in the U.S. is diagnosed with breast cancer. Folsom's Fusion Salon and Spa is doing its part to help end the epidemic.This year the salon is participating in a nationwide program called "Pink Hair For Hope." For any $10 donation made to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, stylists at Fusion will add a pink extension in the donor's hair. Marliss Uhrich, owner of the salon, lost a close friend last year to breast cancer. She decided to do something in honor of the woman that lost the battle, and in honor of other women, like the sister of fellow stylist Katie Chacon, going through breast cancer right now."We want to support them and their fight," Uhrich said.When she heard about the "Pink Hair For Hope" program, she signed up right away. "Everyone's done the wristbands and bows; I wanted to do something different," she said. "This is not only unique, but about hair. Erin was a stylist. It was perfect."This is the second year for the campaign but the first time the Folsom salon has participated. Fusion is one of over 325 salons across the country participating in the two-month program.Spokesperson Hannah Mayo said the program garnered $25,000 last year, and their goal is to raise $100,000 this year."We've already surpassed what we raised last year," Mayo said. "It's only the beginning of October, so we are way ahead."Excluding non-melanoma skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, affecting nearly 1 in 8 women during their lifetime. According to the American Cancer Society, more than 212,000 new cases of breast cancer were diagnosed in the U.S. last year, adding to the 2.3 million women with a history of breast cancer.Pink Hair For Hope runs through the end of the month.