By Beth Jett, FOX 21 News

DULUTH - A Duluth woman is changing her appearance to make a statement, help others and remember a friend.

After 17 years of patient, tender loving care of her hair, Rebecca Lee is planning to show up at My Bonnie Beauty Salon on Wednesday and cut it all off--25 inches of it to be exact.

"I've known all along that I would cut this hair off when I could sit on it," said Lee.  "Now that I can do that and the combination of Tenley's funeral, I decided why not do it now versus later."

Tenley Ireland-Witte was Rebecca's dear friend, who beat breast cancer 10 years ago.  After that, Tenley spent a lot of time in Duluth's Rose Garden, soaking up its solace and beauty.

 "It reminded Tenley a lot of our grandmother in East Washington who had a beautiful rose garden," said Dana de Kanter, Tenley's younger sister.

de Kanter said, like the beauty of the Rose Garden, Tenley loved the beauty she found in people.  "She really saw the heart of people and if she saw someone struggling," said de Kanter from her home in Hernon, Virginia.  "It's like she could look past their eyes and into their heart." 

In March, Tenley was battling a disease known as a precursor to Leukemia. She needed a transplant and her sister Dana was a perfect match.  "Unfortunately, Tenley got sick with an infection a week before we were supposed to do this stem cell transplant down at the Mayo Clinic," de Kanter explained.

At 52-years-old Tenley died March 3rd.  Lee felt the void left behind.  So she contacted Tenley's friends across the country and organized a fundraiser with her hair.  "My goal is to raise $1000 an inch for the American Cancer Society and the City of Duluth Rose Garden because Tenley loved the Rose Garden.

At the request of her stylist, Lee will donate her hair to "Pantene Beautiful Lengths," a program that makes wigs for those who've lost their hair.  It's a gesture that comforts Tenley's family.  "I know she'd be smiling down on us knowing that we haven't forgotten her," said de Kanter.  "And that there's more good that can be done even through her death."

Lee is set to have her hair cut Wednesday, June 10th at 2 p.m.  FOX 21 will be there and follow up on the cause.  In the meantime, if you'd like to make a donation to the cause in honor of Tenley Ireland-Witte, you can send it to Lee's office at 324 West Superior Street, Suite 428 in Duluth, zip code 55802.