9-year-old grows hair to help those who have none

What normally qualifies someone for the title of “hero”, is often years of hard work and helping others. But in some cases, there is a singular moment of true selflessness. Such was the case for 9-year-old Damon Lear.

Damon is your average, everyday fourth grade boy. He enjoys playing soccer, hunting and throwing the baseball with his dad, but there is something a little different about Lear. The young boy has decided to grow out his hair from a buzz cut, to a length nearing the middle of his back, and he’s done so in the name of helping others.

“I just wanted to help those patients that have cancer that didn’t have any hair. I just wanted to help them out,” said Lear.

Lear is growing his hair out to donate it to the Locks of Love organization. The non-profit group provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis.

Lear’s been growing his hair for about a year-and-a-half and is just months away from the end result.

Lear says he got the idea from a female classmate who also donated her hair. He says he didn’t see any reason why a boy couldn’t do the same thing. “One of my friends in my class did it and she told me about it and I said “that’s cool” and I just felt like doing it,” Lear said.

Lear’s grandmother, Cindy Hyatt, says she was overwhelmed when she found out Damon was doing such a selfless thing for another child. “Ever since he’s been old enough to relate with people, he just has an outstanding quality of kindness and love and caring that you don’t normally see in a 9-year-old child,” said Hyatt.

Hyatt says her grandson has always had a penchant for helping others, and she felt his caring spirit deserved some recognition as well. Hyatt said, “ I just thought it was outstanding that he wanted to do something like that and it really didn’t surprise me that much…because he is such a caring, compassionate child.”

Lear says the longer hair is a bit annoying and much hotter than any hairstyle he’s used to. He also says he’s had to endure the occasional teasing for his longer locks. But he says in the end, the contribution he’s making for a child with hair loss will be well worth the sacrifice. Lear said, “I know sometimes they’re embarrassed cause they have no hair and I just wanted to make them feel better.”