Girl donates hair to cancer patients

On Friday, a 12-year-old Shannon Park Elementary student cut her long hair to donate it to make wigs for cancer patients.

Holland van Dijk started growing her hair four years ago after her then 12-year-old neighbour and assistant soccer coach got cancer, lost her hair and began wearing a wig.

Her dance teacher also became sick and wore a wig. That's when Holland decided she could grow enough hair to donate to make someone fighting to stay alive, feel better about the way they look.

"Mary, who is going to be cutting my hair — she always plays with it , and says 'it's so long, I am going to miss this'," said van Dijk. "I am sort of wondering what it is going to look like, but it will be good."

"I'm really happy I'm doing this."

Mary Were predicted she wouldn't be able to chop off all the hair in one cut.

"I am nervous because I don't want to mess up, but there is not a whole lot of messing up to do because you just snip off a pony tail," said Were.

While van Dijk and Were got ready for the moment of truth, other children at Shannon Park showed off their fundraising efforts for cancer by holding a crazy hair day. Each child brought at least $1 to donate.

Were's prediction that she wouldn't get through this thick mane in one snip was right. After switching to bigger scissors, the deed was done.

"It's good, I'm happy," van Dijk said, as Were held up the chopped ponytail and the crowd cheered.

Van Dijk's mother was proud of her daughter.

"Absolute sheer pride," said Sonya Dudka. "I just can't help but smile — what a kid."

Donations were going to the Nova Scotia division of the Canadian Cancer Society.