Kieran Moise,18,started growing out his hair in the eighth grade,after losing a friend to brain cancer. He had seen people donate their hair to children who had lost theirs during medical treatment and wanted to do the same.
"Kieran has always been known for his hair. It was a big part of his personality and who he was," said his mother,Kelly Moise, "But he has always been the most compassionate and caring person. Since he was 6 years old,he somehow had the mindset of raising money and giving it to people who need it,and that never changed. "
In May,Moise graduated from high school with an impressive 19-inch Afro(非洲发式). But with him set to enter the U. S. Air Force Academy,it was finally time for the big cut.
To maximize his impact,Moise organized a live event at a local brewery in Huntsville and an online fundraising campaign called "Kieran's Curls for Cancer",where he aimed to raise ﹩1,000 per inch cut.
On May 29,nearly 100 people attended the event,where they watched Moise get his hair braided and snipped off. His hair was donated to Children With Hair Loss,a non-profit organization in Michigan that makes free wigs for kids and young adults facing medically related hair loss.
By the end of the day,the event raised ﹩20,000 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and has continued to raise money online. As of Saturday,it was more than ﹩39,000.
"Charitable giving comes in many forms,from direct acts of kindness to impactful public statements that motivate others to come together to support a cause," Richard C. Shadyac Jr. ,President and CEO for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital,told CAW, "Kieran's simple act of kindness exemplifies(例证)the power of younger generations and is something to celebrate,a selfless decision that will make a direct impact on the lives of the kids at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and children everywhere for years to come.