Donating hair so it can be made into wigs for children suffering from cancer is a selfless act, and Kennebunk resident Silas Phipps-Costin has recently exhibited such an act of kindness prior to his bar mitzvah.

Phipps-Costin donated his hair to Locks of Love, an organization that states it mission as: to return a sense of self, confidence and normalcy to children suffering from hair loss by utilizing donated ponytails to provide the highest quality hair prosthetics to financially disadvantaged children. The children receive hair prostheses free of charge or on a sliding scale, based on financial need.

For children already battling cancer, losing their hair can be an added devastation. People like 13-year-old Phipps-Costin grow their hair out to the desirable length, 10 inches, and donate the tresses to Lock of Love. For children like Phipps-Costin, his hair will grow back, but for many children with cancer, hair is something many of them are forced to live without while enduring cancer treatments.

We think it’s wonderful that an organization is helping children maintain some dignity during a scary and confusing time in their lives, and for other children to help by donating their own hair is a selfless example we can all follow.

To learn more about Locks of Love visit www.locksoflove.org, to read about Phipps-Costin turn to page 1.