Hair Salon Sponsors Marrow Test Drive

Stylists at the Platinum Salon will be working overtime and charging half-price Sunday to help save a life. They will be taking part in a bone-marrow testing drive and cut-a-thon to benefit a longtime customer’s brother who is suffering from leukemia.

Gerald Benson, 47, brother of salon client Ann Benson and uncle of actor-director Robbie Benson, was found to have leukemia in July and is in need of a bone-marrow transplant. Each of Gerald Benson’s three sisters were tested, but none was a match.

Ann Benson said that without the transplant, her brother will live at most four more years.

“We’re obsessed with working on this because I feel I’ve got to find that match for him,” she said. “And if I can’t, then I’ll help other people, because I feel what goes around, comes around. Maybe if we find a match for someone, someone will find a match for Gerald.”

When salon owner Nicolas Haddad, Ann’s longtime hairdresser, found out about their plan, he offered his shop and his services.

Once the word spread, businesses donated items for a silent, sealed auction, and some organized their own bone-marrow testing drives. Ann Benson’s children--Robbie Benson and clothing designer Shelli Segal--have donated funds for the event.

The testing, which takes about 15 minutes and involves taking a small blood sample, is free to all, and haircuts will be given for $20. Music and food will be provided.

The proceeds from the haircuts, auction and celebrity autograph sales will be used to defray the costs of the drive. Participants will be entered into an American Red Cross national registry to be considered as matches for others in need of transplants.

The event is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at the salon, 17460 Ventura Blvd. in Encino. For more information, call (818) 986-3435.