Together, Let’s Help Kids With Cancer!
Quick SummaryInspired by an uncle currently battling pancreatic cancer, I’m going to grow out my hair so that I can donate it to a hometown charity that makes wigs for kids who have lost their hair battling cancer. I want to raise $1000 per inch I grow. At a 12 inch/30.5cm minimum donation, that’s $12,000. Each wig they make costs $1500-$3000 and requires 20-30 hair donations. Please help me share this project through your social networks or feel free to donate! Tax deductible for Americans on donations over $5. Update 16-Feb-2012: Unfortunately Uncle Barry passed away tonight. But his spirit lives on via his friends and family, and his kindness and positivity will live on via the children touched by this project |
Let’s Help Kids With Cancer!
As you may remember, I started The Happy Nomad Tour bald. I thought it would be easier to manage, logical since it was supposed to be warm everywhere (I froze in Guatemala and Costa Rica), and I liked the look.
Well, I think it was in Leon, Mexico where I realized that shaving my head was more of a bother than anything. It’s just like a beard and after two or three days the hair is back. I don’t even shave my face that much anymore, so I decided to grow out my hair.
My mom has asked me repeatedly over the past 15 years to grow out my hair. Now she is getting her wish, though she may regret it!
I took this picture and sent it home to my family showing how out of control my hair has become. My brother responded with an awesome idea. He said I should grow out my hair and donate it to one of the organizations that takes donated human hair and turns it into wigs for children battling cancer.
Done!
Plus, at this very moment an uncle is battling pancreatic cancer and I lost an aunt to cancer in 2010. Though they aren’t children, I can’t imagine how much harder it would be for kids (and their parents) to go through the same thing.
Inspired by my friend Maria, who on her own accord wanted to cycle from Canada to Mexico and saw an opportunity to combine her journey with the raising money to build a school in Guatemala, I want to raise money for charity as I grow out my hair.
I contacted the most well-known hair donation organization and they completely blew me off. But no problem. I did one better! I found an organization from my hometown of Cleveland doing the same thing and I’m happy to support them!
My goal is to raise $1000 for each inch of hair I grow. The grand total, I hope, will be $12,000 since 12 inches/30.50cm is the minimum amount to donate. Each wig they make costs $1500-$3000 and requires 20-30 hair donations. $12,000 could pay for 4 to 8 wigs.
According to Wigs For Kids, donations of $5 or more are tax deductible for Americans.
It’s a tall order and there are tons of other organizations worthy of your time and money. If you don’t donate any money personally, I’d still really appreciate it if you promoted this endeavor.
I’ll provide periodic updates, both of my crazy hair and of how much has been raised.
Any help you can offer in terms of publicizing this project would go a long way – whether via social networks, the media, etc. If you have any other ideas on how to promote this, please contact me!
Let’s help kids with cancer focus on getting better instead of their physical appearance!
Hey Adam, te amo, and if you really want to help your family and kids with cancer, please get the message out: Watch the movie Simply Raw and Raw of Life or Forks over knives. Most cancer can not thrive in an alkaline body. Most Americans and those eating the SAD (Standard American Diet) are very ACID, cancer and other diseases love it. Help them eliminate dead meat, and heal with a Whole Food plant based diet. Toxic food equals toxic bodies, and the hidden additives in processed food is not good for anyone. Be healthy, stay happy. Elena FincaAmanecer.com
Thanks for sharing. I saw Forks Over Knives. Definitely amazing and finally from a scientific angle. You stay healthy and happy too! 🙂
Go go go! I grew my hair out for my wedding and donated 10 inches afterwards. After a bit of accountability research, I was also less than impressed by “the most well-known charity” in the hair donation arena, so I ended up donating to Pantene Beautiful Lengths.
Looking forward to some silly hair pictures!
Thanks for the encouragement! And yes, crazy hair pictures are sure to come… I still have no comb and don’t intend on buying one… 🙂
What an awesome idea to donate your hair in honor of those you know with cancer and to raise money. I hope their battle against cancer is victorious. Ditto Jessica! I’ve donated my hair twice and ended up going with Pantene the second time around. I too am looking forward to the hair photos. Good luck!
Thanks! Good for you for donating before and yes, crazy pictures to come.. I promise.. 🙂
Awesome proposition! I’m jobless but in for $20 as soon as your hair is six inches. Don’t tell me it is already!?!You look like a chia pet i once had. And i mean that in the nicest way 😉
Seniorita inspiration! 🙂 Thanks! No, I haven’t measured it but I’m
thinking it’s 3-4 inches now. Still a ways to go. Ya, my hair is a mess but doing my own thing means not having to please anyone but myself. And I must
say, it’s always entertaining to see myself in the mirror now 🙂
Thanks again for the inspiration!
It’s reciprocal my friend. Keep growing. Literally and figuratively 🙂
Will do. But same to you!
Did it! It is a great feeling. Suggest it to anyone questioning cutting it off or growing it out.