Community Corner

Avon Hair Stylist to Host Cut-A-Thon Fundraiser for Mitochondrial Disease

Clyde St. Amand's 9-year-old son was diagnosed with the disease four years ago.

An Avon hair salon owner is hosting a cut-a-thon soon as a fundraiser for a disease that his son is battling. 

Clyde St. Amand's Hair Design will be raising awareness about mitochondrial disease and raising funds for The United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation at its Nov. 3 cut-a-thon.

The hair salon will do designer cuts for $25 and is also providing "discounted manicures, mini facials and before and after photos by a professional photographer," St. Amand wrote to Patch in an email. Regular cuts are $55 and up.

"More children are dying from 'mito' than they are from pediatric cancer, yet most people have never heard of this progressive disease," St. Amand said. "The statistics for this disease are the same as cystic fibrosis. In a nutshell, the cells do not produce the energy needed for cell life in a person with 'mito'. This leads to cell injury and even cell death. If this process is repeated throughout the body, whole systems fail, and life is severely compromised. This disease is hard to diagnose since the symptoms are often mistaken for other illnesses."

St. Amand's son, Evan, who is almost 9, was diagnosed with the disease four years ago "through an invasive muscle biopsy," so the cause touches home for the West Hartford resident, his wife and his two children. 

"It took us five children's hospitals in three different states to finally get help for our son," St. Amand said. "It was almost too late. Evan is hooked up to IV's 17 hrs/day and lives life to the fullest the seven hours he is 'free.' He is amazing and an inspiration to all that know and love him."

The event on Sunday, Nov. 3 will run rom 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and haircuts will be given on a "first come first served basis," according to the flyer. All of the proceeds will benefit The United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation. 

The hair salon is located at 45 East Main St. in Avon Village Marketplace. For more information, call the salon at 860-674-8400 or clydest.amand@gmail.com or visit http://www.clydestamandshairdesign.com.


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