Daijiworld Media Network- Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, Sep 27: Girls growing long hair is quite a common trend, but here is a 12-year-old boy who grew his hair 12-inches long for 20 months, for a noble cause of donating it to cancer patients, to create wigs.

Aiden Abreo is the boy who donated his hair to cancer patients with help of Mangalore Ladies Circle 82 on September 20. He was pursuing class 7 student at St Joseph Boys High School in Bengaluru, and now studying at Sharada Residential School in Udupi.

Aiden, inspired by the social works of his parents Austin and Shalini Abreo, thought of helping cancer patients who suffer hair loss due to chemotherapy by donating his hair to create wigs.

Speaking to daijiworld.com, Shalini Abreo said, "Aiden was thinking about growing his hair from a long time. Though he was willing to grow hair, it was not possible for him, as he had to go to school. But, due to the pandemic, schools were closed. Hence, he got an opportunity to grow hair and he did not trim it. His intention to grow hair was to donate it to cancer patients to create wigs.

"Normally boys do not grow such long hair at his age. Boys of his age were making fun of him by calling him a gay and transgender. But, he did not care about anybody. His intention was only to donate the hair for the good cause. Whenever, we went out people used to think that Aiden was a girl, because of long hair.

"I did not have any problem with my son growing long hair. I used to tell him not to bother about others criticisms. As his intention was good, I advised him not to worry,” she said.

She also informed that she had contacted several NGOs to donate hair, but many were least bothered and there was no good response from them. “When people come forward to donate hair for a good cause, no one is ready to accept it. The donors will lose interest in donating,” she says.

Finally, when contacted Mangalore Ladies Circle 82, they helped to donate hair for the noble cause.

Chairperson of Mangalore Ladies Circle 82 Cr Jennifer Fernandes informed (through a member) that Mangalore Ladies Circle 82 this year launched a hair donation drive for cancer patients called 'Locks Of Love' wherein, 10 inches of hair can be donated and it will be sent to make wigs for underprivileged cancer patients through Cherian Foundation.