A Beach Encounter Inspired A Boy To Grow His Hair For A Child In Need

September 17, 2024

Today's good news story comes from Providence, Rhode Island.

In a heartwarming act of kindness, 14-year-old Emilio Santana, currently a ninth grader, has donated two feet of his hair to children in need, a gesture he's been preparing for since the third grade.

Emilio Santana / NBC 10 WJAR

Emilio's inspiring journey began when a single moment of empathy at the beach left a lasting impression.

"I started growing out my hair in the third grade," Emilio shared with WJAR. "A little girl at the beach was going to the water and took her hat off, and her hair went with it. You could see she was sad and felt embarrassment, and that kind of just stuck with me."

The sight of the young girl’s struggle motivated Emilio to take action, sparking a mission to help children who have lost their hair due to illness.

For many years, Emilio nurtured his hair with one goal in mind: to donate it and make a difference in someone's life.

"Knowing how big of a part that could play in somebody else’s life and bring joy to them, it made me want to take action," he explained.

Growing his hair wasn't always easy. Emilio faced challenges, especially as an athlete. Maintaining long hair while being active in sports was a task in itself, and he also encountered negative remarks from others.

"Even when I got some comments like ‘boys shouldn’t have long hair’ and stuff like that, I decided as long as I get to see somebody smile and make their life better, I wanted to do it,” Emilio said.

Despite the challenges, Emilio remained committed, and his perseverance paid off. His hair has been donated to Hair We Share, a nonprofit organization that provides wigs to children with medical hair loss at no cost. Thanks to Emilio's thoughtful gesture, a child will now receive a wig that could help restore their confidence and bring a smile to their face.

Check out the heartwarming local news video below!.