A Central Florida salon owner is making life better for hundreds of women facing the battle of their lives. Gail Benson is working to make sure women with cancer still feel beautiful.

At just 19 years old, Schuyler Alexander is battling the disease.

“You wake up and you don’t feel good every day and then you look in the mirror and you don’t feel pretty either,” said Alexander.

Schuyler recently got to take a break from her cancer treatments for a few minutes in Benson’s The Look Salon & Blow Dry Bar in Oviedo.

“If only for a moment she forgets she’s dealing with cancer,” said Benson.

After Alexander had tried several wigs she wasn’t happy with, Benson found one that had the perfect fit and look. Alexander was in tears after fitted with it.

When Benson heard about the national nonprofit “Wigs and Wishes” a couple of years ago, she said she realized she had to do something to help local women.

“Empowering them through their illness and knowing that we have a talent that we can help someone else out with,” said Benson.

Benson’s Aloma Avenue salon is now filled with pictures of before and afters for hundreds of women. At first covering most of the costs out of her own pocket, Benson now leads a local fundraising effort that’s helped hundreds of Central Florida women — even some young girls battling cancer.

“The very first question is, am I going to lose my hair — and that’s what is really a big thing that keeps us going,” said Benson.

“I think it gives women an opportunity to feel pretty again. And I think that’s pretty significant,” said Alexander.

“I think it empowers them and helps them fight even harder against the disease,” said Benson.

Benson is kicking off 25 Days of Giving benefiting Wigs and Wishes on Monday, Dec. 5. The fundraising event is at Benson’s salon, The Look Salon & Blow Dry Bar, at 3635 Aloma Ave.

Benson can be reached at 407-977-8481.