TEMECULA, Calif. – (Oct. 30, 2024) – If you’ve been to Pechanga Resort casino, you’ve likely seen the stained glass beacon at the Round Bar. It stands 40-feet in height. That’s also the length of hair donated by generous men, women and kids throughout October at Spa Pechanga.

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, dozens of men, women and even kids walked into Spa Pechanga with long hair and left with new looks. Forty six donors in all chopped eight or more inches of their hair as part of Spa Pechanga’s Mane Campaign. The initiative encourages people with long hair to cut and donate it for someone who’s lost theirs due to medical treatments. Donors received free cuts and styles in return. In all, the 46 donors gave up more than 40 feet of hair. Forty feet equals approximately the length of a semi truck, or the height of Pechanga Resort Casino’s Round Bar.

Each donor came in with a story of what moved them to donate. Val Vega from Menifee had been growing his hair out for years. His wife called and made the donation appointment for him. Dominque Castillo chopped her hair for the sixth time in honor of her husband who survived brain cancer. Dominique inspired her co-worker, Samantha Kinney, who also has several instances of cancer in her family. Reyn Miller and Winnie Pugeda donated their hair together. They grew up together in Winnipeg, Canada, but lost touch until they saw one another at work one day, at Pechanga Resort Casino. Winnie was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer in July 2024. Reyn said she had no hesitation cutting her hair in honor of her childhood friend.

 

All ponytails were donated through Spa Pechanga’s 2024 Mane Campaign to the Hair We Share organization. Pechanga also contributed $50 per ponytail to Hair We Share to help them offset the cost of making the wigs.
Hair donors truly recognize the win-win nature of the initiative. They get to do something great for someone else, and they receive a free haircut and style in return for their gift. Pechanga also teamed up with Paul Mitchell The School in Temecula and Smith Hair Salon. Paul Mitchell students provided the donation cuts. This earned the students credit toward their cosmetology or barbering license. Smith Hair Salon provided the free haircuts and styles to shape the donors’ ‘dos into what best suited them.

This is Spa Pechanga’s 10th year hosting the Mane Campaign.
Statistics show it takes four to six ponytails to make one complete wig for someone undergoing cancer treatment. To date, the spa has collected 800 ponytails, enough for 200 wigs.

For more information on Spa Pechanga, visit pechanga.com or call 951-770-8501.