Marti Mercer, Director of the Emerge Salon on Newbury Street in Boston, is feeling the loss of her colleague Celeste Corcoran, the stylist who lost her legs in the Boston Marathon bombing.

Originally I had planned to meet with Celeste in the rehab center, but Celeste's daughter Sydney (also injured in the blast) was in the process of being released and it turned out not to be the best time to stop by.

Marti invited me in to the salon to offer an update on Celeste's progress and on the most recent plans for the Celeste-A-Thon, the cut-a-thon planned to raise funds to help Celeste deal with her new reality (ramps, wheel chairs, etc).

"The community has been unbelievable," she says. "20 salons are holding cut-a-thons, stores are holding events and offering prizes...with all proceeds going to the fund."

In this interview, Marti shares details and offers suggestions on how other salons can get involved. Although the Boston Celeste-A-Thon will take place next Monday, May 13, Marti suggests that any interested salon should feel free to hold a cut-a-thon at any time.

"We are expecting a large crowd on Monday," says Marti. "But not all of her clients are coming. Many of her male clients have called to say they refuse to get their hair cut until Marti returns."

For more information or to donate, go to Celeste & Sydney Recovery Fund

Modern's last story "Boston Helps Celeste...." offers more details and shares how other salons are helping.