SIERRA VISTA, Ariz. (AP) -- Tucked within a tiny room in the soothing setting of Visage European Day Spa is a collection of wigs.

There are more than 100 of them, of all styles, lengths and colors.

For three years now, women struggling with hair loss from cancer chemotherapy treatments have turned to a service offered by Visage's owner, Wilma Mrosek-Moses, herself a cancer survivor.

Women undergoing chemotherapy are encouraged to come to the spa and select a wig. They're free to those who can't afford one. No one is turned away.

The program is called the Butterfly Club, symbolizing the metamorphosis a butterfly goes through as its wings first emerge and it flutters into the world, facing newfound freedoms.

On this day, Pat Hilditch is sitting before a mirror while Wilma shaves her head. Removing the stubble allows the wig to fit more comfortably on the person's scalp, Wilma explains. After trying on different styles, the wig Pat selects is a shoulder-length blonde one that frames her face.

"It's a good fit," Wilma says, stepping back to admire the final look.

Smiling at her reflection, Pat's appearance is transformed. She chats openly about her battle against breast cancer, the diagnosis, treatment and different emotions along the way.

But mostly she talks about Wilma and the Butterfly Club's wig program.

"I can't say enough about the wonderful support they've given me," Pat said. "My cancer treatment hasn't been nearly as bad as I was expecting, and it's because of all the wonderful people that I've met through this whole process."

Last year, 78 women received wigs through the Butterfly Club, an accomplishment Wilma attributes to support from friends and the community.

"The club has come a long way from when this first started," Wilma said during an interview in her home, where she's flying around the kitchen, busily preparing a 10-course dinner for 12 guests.

The dinner is another page in the Butterfly Club's story. The meal helps Wilma raise money to purchase more wigs for the club - and have fun doing it.

"The way this evolved is I had two wigs to donate and contacted the cancer center to find out where I should take them," Wilma said. "I wanted them to go to women who needed a wig, but couldn't afford to buy one. That's when I found out there were no programs like that in this area."

The Butterfly Club was officially formed in January 2005.

Wilma's first wig purchase was made possible by a donation from her husband, Charles Edwin Moses, who handed over his entire paycheck for her to use.

While Charles' donation gave the program the jump-start it needed, it was soon obvious that Wilma would need to find ways to raise money if she wanted to continue purchasing wigs.

"I was getting lots of calls for wigs, but had no money to buy them," she said.

As a first-rate cook who loves to entertain, Wilma came up with the idea of organizing formal dinner parties, asking for a $60-a-plate donation for a 10-course meal. Enlisting the help of her mother and a couple of close friends, she started organizing the dinners. They were an immediate hit.

"I've been doing this for three years now, and have loyal fans who have come to every single dinner," Wilma said.

Eva Marie Kiley is the massage therapist and business manager at Visage. And she's at every dinner party, where she serves as the hostess and introduces guests to the Butterfly Club's gift shop. Money raised through the gift shop is used to buy food for the dinners.

"Every dime raised through the dinner parties goes toward buying more wigs," Eva Marie said. "So we needed to come up with a way to pay for the food. That's where the gift shop comes in."

The Butterfly Dinner Club hosts about 10 parties a year, offering culinary sensations from all over the world.

"Men got wind of our dinners and offered to help in the kitchen," Wilma said. "I've even had retired colonels calling to help out."

Kitchen helpers are entitled to the same 10-course meal that guests enjoy, but they eat free.

All three of Visage's employees, including Wilma, donate gift certificates that are sold at the dinner. The certificates are in the form of services offered at the spa, such as a massage, pedicure, manicure or facial.

"My goal is to make this a fun evening for all our guests," Wilma said. "I honestly feel that everyone has a responsibility to give back to the community, and the Butterfly Club is my way of doing that."

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Information from: Sierra Vista Herald, http://www.svherald.com

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