Ambiance Hair Salon in Ashland will be doing a 24-hour hair--a-thon for Amy For Africa on March 6-7.

Ambiance Hair Salon in Ashland will be doing a 24-hour hair-a-thon for Amy For Africa on March 6-7.

By ADAM BLACK / The Independent

ASHLAND When it comes to marathons, the first thing that might come to mind is a day of running or binge-watching a favorite TV show.

But for Shannon Luther, it’s all about hair.

 Luther, owner of Ambiance Salon at 3045 Winchester Ave., is partnering with Amy For Africa to host a 24-hour Hair-A-Thon on the first Friday in March, featuring many services.

“This is my way of bringing awareness and using the talent I was given,” Luther said. “It’s a great way to serve the Lord using my talent.”

The beautician, who is planning to travel to Moyo, Uganda with an AFA team in May, is trying to raise money to put shoes on the children’s feet in Moyo, where AFA serves with United Christian Expedition.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to travel to Africa,” she said.

During the event, the salon will offer various services, including mini manicures, mini pedicures, mini facials and hair-cutting. Between two and four stylists from the salon will participate, and independent stylists are welcome to join them. “We will have plenty of space in the afternoon hours for more stylists,” Luther said.

The event will start at 7 a.m. March 6 and run until 7 a.m. the following day. Luther requests appointments, but walk-ins are welcome. Time slots are still available between 3 and 7 a.m. March 7.

Appointments are being booked for 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the service.

“It’s a win-win situation,” Luther said.

The salon will not charge for services, but a minimum $10 donation to Amy For Africa is suggested. Luther is hoping the event will raise about $1,000 for the mission. The face of AFA is Amy Compston, the elite marathon runner who is preparing for her third consecutive Boston Marathon. Last year, she ran eight marathons in eight months. The 2015 Boston Marathon will be her fifth world marathon in two years.

AFA is a local nonprofit organization has teamed with Samaritan’s Feet to put 26,000 pairs of shoes on the feet of children in the Moyo region. The cost for shipping is $2 per pair of shoes for $52,000 total. The organization started fundraising in mid-December and has already raised more than $45,000 for the shoe project.

To make an appointment at Ambiance for the Hair-A-Thon, call (606) 324-6171.