In a touching act of generosity, 11-year-old Conor Delaney from Mountmellick, Co. Laois, has spent the past four years growing out his hair to donate to children with cancer. Conor’s journey of kindness began when his brother’s friend was diagnosed with cancer, inspiring him to take action and make a difference.
On Friday, October 25, Conor will cut his long locks and donate them to the Locks of Love for LauraLynn Hair Donation Fundraiser, a charity that creates wigs for children undergoing chemotherapy.
Conor’s mother, Sabrina Delaney, explained that the idea was sparked when her son first saw his brother’s friend after the boy had started chemotherapy. “Back when he was in second class, a boy who was friends with our second son, Oisin, had taken ill,” she recalled. “Conor saw him at The Rock GAA pitch and noticed his hair was gone. When Conor asked what happened, I explained that the medicine was making him better, but he was losing his hair.”
From that moment, Conor decided to grow his own hair to help children like his brother’s friend. “He asked if he could give the little boy his hair, and when I told him it was too short at the time, he made up his mind to grow it out.”
Now, after four years, Conor’s hair has reached his waist, and he is preparing to donate it to LauraLynn, Ireland’s Children’s Hospice, which supports families and provides care for children with life-limiting conditions.
While Conor’s decision has been inspiring, it hasn’t come without challenges. Growing his hair has made him the target of teasing and bullying from peers. “It hasn’t been easy for him,” Mrs. Delaney said. “Kids can be very mean. They often assume he’s a girl because of his long hair.”
Despite the hurtful remarks, Conor has handled the situation with maturity and grace. “With adults, he takes it on the chin and politely corrects them when they mistake him for a girl, and they apologise. But it’s harder with kids.”
Conor’s family is incredibly proud of his strength and perseverance. “This has all been his idea. We’re just helping him with the technical side of things,” Mrs. Delaney said. “He’s stuck with it for four years, even through the tough times.”
Conor’s selflessness has not gone unnoticed. The local community and his school, The Rock, have rallied around him, offering unwavering support. “The school has been fantastic,” said Mrs. Delaney. “They’re fully behind him, 150%.”
On the day of the big cut, local barber Martina Coss, who runs a popular barber shop in Portlaoise, will be in charge of trimming Conor’s hair. The event will take place at The Rock school just before the Halloween break, making it a memorable moment for Conor and his classmates.
The family has also been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support for their fundraiser. “We can’t believe how many people are donating and sharing our campaign,” Mrs. Delaney said. “We’ve managed to raise over €960 in just the first day.”
While it’s common for young girls to donate their hair to charity, the fact that Conor is a boy has captured additional attention. “Maybe we’re getting all this attention because Conor’s a young boy doing it, and it’s not as common,” she added.
As the big day approaches, Conor’s family is bursting with pride. “As parents, we are incredibly proud of him, both for his kindness and his resilience over the past four years,” said Mrs. Delaney. “We’re just asking people to continue supporting his strength by donating to LauraLynn.”
Conor’s inspiring act of kindness stands as a powerful reminder of the impact one individual can make, especially when driven by compassion and a desire to help others. With his donation, Conor will bring smiles and comfort to children battling cancer, showing that even at a young age, we can all make a difference in the lives of others.
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