Community Corner
Community Supports Esquivel Family With a Cut-A-Thon
A fundraiser to benefit Sarah Esquivel, who was diagnosed with nephrogenic adenoma lesions in her bladder last year, was held Sunday at The Hair Loft.
Rain wasn’t the only thing falling on Sunday. Snips of hair were also hitting the ground at The Hair Loft as the Avon community banded together and organized ‘Snips for Sarah,’ a cut-a-thon for 7-year-old resident Sarah Esquivel.
Sarah was diagnosed with nephrogenic adenoma lesions in her bladder last year, and as a way to help the Esquivel family financially, local Avon residents stepped up and showed their support through a cut-a-thon fundraiser.
Six stylists from The Hair Loft donated their time Sunday, with all of the proceeds from the hair cuts benefiting the Esquivel family.
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“Personally, I’m still in shock,” said April Esquivel, Sarah’s mom. “It’s still an amazing thing to see the community come together and do such a wonderful thing.”
Oscar, Sarah’s father, couldn’t agree more.
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“For me, it’s another way of how the Avon community comes together in time of tragedy and need,” he said. “It is a celebration of people coming together.”
Oscar and April have served as coach and manager of the Girls Avon Pegasus Travel Soccer Team for three years.
Hunton Tiffany, who’s wife Josie works at the salon, said Oscar and April have given so much time over the years to the soccer program, without even having children on the team.
“They’ve given so much,” he said. “It is our way of returning a small favor.”
Hunton said Oscar is always 150 percent committed to the team, and his dedication and support to the girls is unmatched.
Maura Fitzgerald, owner of The Hair Loft, opened the salon on Sunday for the cut-a-thon. She said the salon was completely booked for the event, with 37 appointments, and expected more walk-ins throughout the day.
“We’re more than happy to do this,” Fitzgerald said, adding that when the stylists were asked to donate their time to the event, “There was no hesitation on their part.”
Josie said the support for Sarah at the fundraiser was overwhelming to witness.
“It’s basically one family helping another,” she said. "They're amazing. [Oscar] treats our girls like they are his girls."
Several of the girls on Oscar’s soccer team also came out to show their support for Sarah and her family.
“It’s really nice,” said Amber Murray, on the event. “We get to bond together, everyone as a team.”
Lauren Tiffany, daughter of Hunton and Josie, agreed.
“It’s a good way to raise money for a family who has done a lot for us,” she said.
Individual donations can still be made to the Esquivel family. Donations can be mailed to: Sarah Esquivel, C/O Farmington Savings Bank, PO Box 8, Farmington, CT 06034, with the memo line reading ‘for deposit only.’
