Hair today, gone tomorrow as Jacob sheds locks for charity
It was a case of ‘hair today, gone tomorrow’ for a 20-year-old GMIT student who decided to donate his 15-inch locks to charity.
Jacob Kantor from the city centre proved he was the ‘mane man’ by getting his hair cut for the first time in more than four years.
The reason? To allow it be used in the creation of a ‘Freedom Wig’ for a cancer patient who has lost their hair.
Jacob – who is originally from the Czech Republic – told the Galway City Tribune that between 20 and 25 ponytails (each must be at least 14”) are required to make each wig.
And he appealed to other young people to consider doing the same.
“The last time I got my hair cut was in December 2010. Part of the reason for growing my hair was for my own individuality, but I did want to do something like this [donate it] for five or six years.
“I would hope that other young people might do the same. Don’t be afraid to express yourself if you do want to grow your hair – you have the chance to enrich someone else’s life,” he said.
He said young people are particularly suited to donating hair because they are not under any employer constraints over their appearance, and their hair is likely to be ‘virgin’ – it cannot be coloured or chemically-treated.
His mother Lucie believes hair donation is a great way of helping those less fortunate.
“People who have lost their hair, including children, can face huge difficulties and wigs are very expensive, and Rapunzel Foundation do very good work.
“Jacob is in college ... there are 17,000 students in NUIG and another few thousand in GMIT, hopefully other kids would considering growing their hair. People may not have any money, but there is always something to give and they can make a change in someone else’s life.
Jacob became an Irish citizen last November, and wanted to do something for his new home country. “It’s not just for cancer patients, think of children with alopecia – it can help avoid bullying and help them live as much a normal life as possible,” said Lucie.
Jacob’s hair was cut free of charge by Talent’s Hair Salon in Terryland, which supports Rapunzel.
“You can’t just take a scissors to it! They require a certain length, without layering, and it has to be cut from the nape of the neck,” he said.