Teen Donates His Hair To Charity, Raising $45,000 For Kids With Cancer – Thank You

Jul 14, 2021

Hair has long been an important part of most societies and cultures on earth. Some people like having long, luscious locks, while others prefer having a shorter hairstyle as the optimal, practical haircut for their daily lives.

No matter how we like it, whenever our hair doesn't cooperate or we start losing our hair, we often start feeling a bit self-conscious. This is completely understandable, as our haircut is an important part of our self-image.

After growing his hair out over six long years, an Alabama teenager made the radical decision to cut it off in order to raise money to support children with cancer.

Kieran Moïse, 18, initially started growing out his hair when he was in eighth grade, shortly after losing a friend to brain cancer. He had heard about people donating their hair to children suffering from cancer who had lost theirs due to the harsh medical treatment needed to fight their illnes. As his mother Kelly Moïse, 49, told CNN, he had wanted to do the same.

"Kieran has always been known for his hair. It was a big part of his personality and who he was," she stated. "But he has always been the most compassionate and caring person. Since he was 6 years old, he somehow had the mindset of raising money and giving it to people who need it, and that never changed."

As losing his friend to cancer had left a deep mark on Kieran, she was not surprised when he stated his intentions. Having been close to his friend while he struggled with his illness, Kieran knew how hard fighting cancer itself was, not to mention the additional troubles of losing your hair and sometimes being subjected to other children's taunting.

Back in May, Kieran graduated from his high school sporting an impressive 19-inch Afro. And as he was set to enter the US Air Force Academy after his graduation, it was finally time to trim his hair.

To maximize the impact of his actions, Kieran organized a live event that took place at a local brewery in Huntsville, Alabama, as well as an online fundraising campaign he called "Kieran's Curls for Cancer." He was aiming to raise $1,000 per inch cut, resulting in a total of $19,000.

Then, on May 29, almost 100 people stopped by at his event, where they watched live as Kieran got his hair braided and finally cut off. His locks went on to be donated to Children With Hair Loss, which is a non-profit organization in Michigan that produces free wigs for kids and young adults who are struggling with medically related hair loss.

At the end of the day, Kieran's live event had raised $20,000 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The event has since continued to raise money online even after this resounding success. As of the writing of this article, it was more than $46,000.

The online fundraiser still features the original message Kieran included before he went on to join the Air Force. He wrote:

"I have been growing my hair out for many years with the goal of donating it to charity. Now that it is time to shave it, I would like to raise $1,000 per inch for St. Jude's Hospital. My hair is 19 inches long and that $19,000 will do so much good to help families dealing with cancer."

The original message continued:

"One of my good friends in middle school died from cancer and I know St. Jude's really helped his family. This is just one way that I feel like I can give back. It will also help make some really good wigs for kids! Please donate and help me reach my goal! I will be shaving my hair at Straight to Ale on May 29th if you would like to join us. If not, we will be doing a live event online."

Kieran's charitable act and fundraiser continues to raise awareness and funds for cancer research even long after the live event he eventually set up. Richard C. Shadyac Jr., President and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, explained to CNN that it is actions like these that raise awareness within their communities and help support important research and support groups:

"Charitable giving comes in many forms, from direct acts of kindness to impactful public statements that motivate others to come together to support a cause

Kieran's simple act of kindness exemplifies the power of younger generations and is something to celebrate, a selfless decision that will make a direct impact on the lives of the kids at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and children everywhere for years to come."

Kieran is currently training at the Air Force academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and is not allowed access to phones or computers during his first four weeks, which means he doesn't yet know how successful his fundraiser has become. His mother is hoping to surprise him with the unexpected results once he can contact her again.

What do you think about Kieran's fundraiser? Have you ever done something similar? Tell us your thoughts and pass this along to raise awareness and remind people that every little bit counts!