Aura Carmi has been donating her hair to Wigs for Kids, a nonprofit organization that provides wigs to kids who have lost their hair because of a medical treatment, for nearly 12 years.

“[In that time] I’ve probably donated around 10 feet of hair,” Carmi said. “No, no, that’s wrong, probably five to six feet of hair.”

So it was an interesting twist in November 2006 when Carmi contacted Wigs for Kids to provide a wig for her daughter Meital, who had been diagnosed with Leukemia, a cancer of the blood.

“I would have never had dreamed it would be for my own kid,” Carmi said.

Every year in the United States, around 10,400 children are diagnosed with cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. Many of those children will lose their hair as a result of medical treatment. Wigs for Kids provides around 120 of those children each year with wigs, but the number of requests continues to increase, said Susan Yaroma-Ross, executive director of Wigs for Kids, which depends 100 percent on donations and fund-raising.

Local drag entertainment and restaurant Lips San Diego will host a fund-raiser show this Sunday, April 27 to benefit Wigs for Kids.

Tomas Guerrero, the fund-raising coordinator for Lips who is also known as local drag performer Cristina Monet, was watching the “Today Show” last year when he saw a segment on the nonprofit organization.

“It was this little girl who had lost her hair from the effects of chemotherapy,” Guerrero said. “Then I saw the Web site and I was intrigued.”

Later, Guerrero approached management at Lips with the idea for a fund-raiser to benefit Wigs for Kids. “They went one hundred percent for it,” he said.

The organization’s mission also hit close to home for Guerrero, a hairstylist. One of his youngest clients also lost hair as a result of chemotherapy treatment. Guerrero said his young client had to make many adjustments, as did Carmi’s daughter, Meital.

“There was the fight and the fear with the Leukemia,” Carmi said. “There was the agony, the pain, and the sickness of all of that and then on top of it all, my poor gorgeous girl going totally bald.”

Aside from the physical change, the loss of hair has emotional impacts, too.

“When children lose their hair, whether as a result of medical treatments, health conditions, or burn accidents, they don’t just suffer physically,” Yaroma-Ross said. “The change in their appearance can drastically undermine their self-image and sabotage their self-esteem.”

Wigs for Kids provided a custom made wig specifically designed for Meital Carmi in 2006. Each of the hair pieces are custom made, hand tied and made from 100 percent human hair to match the child’s natural appearance, said Wigs for Kids founder Jeffrey Paul. The wigs cost about $1,500, at no cost to the parent.

Carmi said her daughter’s wig made a world of difference.

“She looked in the mirror and smiled at herself,” she said. “She just had so much more self-confidence.” Now, Carmi said, Meital is doing well. She participated in a piano recital last year and received a perfect score at her school’s science fair.

As for the fund-raiser, local drag entertainers are ready to perform for a good cause.

“I just hope everyone comes out and enjoys,” said performer Tootie, who is known for impersonations of Cher and Joan Jett.

“If we make enough to purchase one wig, then I’m happy,” Guerrero said.

Tickets for the show are $50 in advance and $65 at the door. Tickets can be purchased at Lips. All proceeds go directly to Wigs for Kids. Doors open at 6 p.m., and a silent auction will be on display. People will be seated between 7 and 7:30 and the drag show will begin shortly after.