Feb. 23, 2012

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Fans should have no problem identifying Samford senior relief pitcher Joseph Burns warming up in the bullpen this season. At least for the first few weeks of the season.

Burns is letting his hair grow out to donate to the Locks of Love program. Locks of Love is a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada under age 21 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis. The organization meets a unique need for children by using donated hair to create the highest quality hair prosthetics.

Burns said he originally started growing his hair out because of the way he was playing, but then he found out about the program.

"It actually started out as more of superstition thing," Burns said. "I always kept my hair really short and I grew it out and started having success. When I got to about four or five inches in length, somebody brought it up that I should go out and donate it."

For Locks of Love to accept his donation, Burns will have to grow his hair out to at least 10 inches in length. He says it is currently a little over nine inches.

"I started doing my research and I realized I was basically half way there," Burns said. "So, I thought if I had already gone this far I might as well continue on and do it."

Burns said there is no one specific he is growing his hair out for, it is just a way he has found to help a good cause.

"I don't really have anybody immediately in my family that has cancer or anything like that, but I had close friends who have had members have had it," Burns said. "And the more research I did, the more that I thought this was something I can do, as part of Samford's overall service and also part of the religious side of service.

"I'm a college student in pharmacy school, without a job, so if I can't give time or money, the least I can do is be the butt of a few jokes," Burns said.

Burns said he thinks he should be able to make his donation within the next couple of weeks.

"I'm at a little over nine inches, so I'm thinking within the next couple of weeks, I'll be there and should be able to remove it all," Burns said.

Burns said his teammates on the Samford baseball team have enjoyed making jokes about the length of his hair this season.

"Some of them love it and some of them have given me a hard time about it," Burns said. "It kind of goes from person to person but they love to give me a hard time about it."

Locks of Love has recipients in all 50 states and Canada and is working towards its goal to help every financially disadvantaged child suffering from long-term hair loss.

For more information about the Locks of Love program, go to www.locksoflove.org.