Teen raises $38,000 for kids with cancer by cutting his 19-inch afro

• Kieran Moïse, 17, had been known for his impressively long afro since childhood.
• With his enrollment at the United States Air Force Academy, Kieran knew he had to cut his hair off.
• It was difficult for him, but he decided to do it for a cause — raise funds for cancer research and donate his hair to nonprofit providing free wigs to people suffering from medically-related hair loss!

Saying goodbye to the hair you’ve grown since childhood was not easy, especially if you’re best known for it. But Kieran Moïse didn’t mind, he let go of his impressive Afro to help other kids.

Kieran’s 19-inch hair surrounded his head like a halo, and he had been having it since he was a child. But as he was set to enroll at the United States Air Force Academy, which meant he needed a haircut, he had let it go.

The 17-year-old, though, didn’t fret over this loss. Instead, he thought of turning something better out of the situation. So, he decided to make a charity event benefiting two organizations close to him: St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital and Michigan-based Children with Hair Loss, a nonprofit that provides human hair wigs for free to people suffering from medically-related hair loss.

“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,” he explained on his fundraising page launched on May 29.

“My hair is 19 inches long and that $19,000 will do so much good to help families dealing with cancer. 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!”

Kieran’s parents Patrick and Kelly knew how much cutting his afro hair off meant to him. But his decision has made them proud of their son.

“My son has always had a huge heart. He was determined that if he was going to have to get a haircut anyway, then he should pay it forward in a way that would help as many people as possible,” Kelly told the Washington Post.

In a local event in Huntsville, Alabama, Kieran submitted to being shorn in front of nearly 100 enthusiastic supporters, helping him raise to support cancer research at St. Jude.

The teen’s long tresses were forwarded to the Michigan charity. As of now, Kieran has raised more than $39,000!

Kieran hopes his “shaving grace” will encourage others that like him, they can offer help, in their own little ways.

“[Kieran] wants people to know that if he can donate his hair, then anyone can,” Kelly told WaPo. “He’s hoping that everyone will be encouraged to go out there and commit their own small act of kindness.”

Source: Good News Network