It's an event that was held last year to raise money for a local girl battling leukemia. Family friends are once again holding a haircut marathon, but this time it has a double special meaning.
Feliciano and Dalila Martinez are living most parents' nightmare. It's a scene all too familiar for the Martinez family. Their 11-year-old daughter, Ruth, was diagnosed with leukemia in December of 2009. Since then, the family has been doing whatever they can to raise money for Ruth’s medical costs. Family friends have made plates of food to sell, but the most profitable fundraiser was a haircut marathon held last year.
Family friend, Veronica Tijerina, said, “We're all stylists, and we all got together so we can help out. The haircut is $5 and everything was contributed for her diagnosis, chemo, other expenses.”
Last year's fundraiser was such a success that it helped raise $3500. That money went towards a down payment for a truck. There was special meaning for buying a truck. Ruth is in so much pain after her treatments she needs to lie down in the back seat. Feliciano was fired from his job after having to take so much time off to travel to San Antonio and Houston for doctor visits. If that wasn't bad enough, the Martinez family received some devastating news last May.
After Ruth’s 13-year-old brother Issac had spent so much time praying that the cancer leave his sister's body, he was diagnosed with lupus. Although this is a trying time for the Martinez family, they stay positive by spending time praying together. Ruth and Issac are the only kids in the family, and friends of the family feel this is an important time to come together.
Although Ruth is going through this painful time, she was able to finish the school year and even passed her TAKS test. The Martinez kids are hopeful that this year's haircut marathon will be even more of a success than last year's.
The Haircut Marathon benefiting Issac and Ruth Martinez will be held on Sunday at the Laredo Chi Academy located at 1713 Del Mar Blvd. It will begin at 9 a.m. and go through 4 p.m.
For more information call 956-242-8354.