My hair has always been a large part of my identity.

Growing up, I often would use my hair as a safety blanket to hide behind because it was easier than trying to overcome being shy. From birth until the fifth grade, my mom used to cut my hair tom boyishly short herself in the bathtub and I would watch pieces of myself detach and fall down the drain. Finally, when I was allowed full jurisdiction over the length of my hair, I grew it out until it sashayed just above my hips. With those two extremes, I've also had every length in-between, topped off with the signature side part and bangs that never seemed to leave my forehead. I've gone from being that girl who'd cry in the salon chair because getting "just a trim" turned into a tragedy to chopping off ten inches to donate and feeling no remorse.

My strong, dark locks also serve as a reminder of my heritage. Straight and sleek hair ties me back generations from my mom to her mom to her mom. Not to say that I didn't used to envy the delicate blonde strands of my friends or the body and personality that came with having bouncy curls, but I now realize the history my head of hair carries. 

I also used my hair as an outlet for creativity. From experimenting with color (like getting blonde highlight stripes when I had a bob and flat out looking like a bumble bee) to trying out various cuts, styles, layers, parts, braids, clips, ties, headbands, hats and whatever else you could possibly fasten to your head. Each new hairstyle marked a different era of my life, and my personality and confidence grew alongside them.

My hair served as my comfort zone, a sign of my past, a form of self-expression. A lot of my memories stem from my hair, and to imagine having all of that taken away because of a disease is heartbreaking. So, if by shaving my head means that I can bring a child closer to having these memories, then so be it. But donating my hair isn't enough. Childhood cancer research is extremely underfunded and I ask that you join me to raise money for a cure. My goal is to raise $5,000 which seems like I'm in over my head but I believe in my community. There is no such thing as a donation too small!

Keep going, and #keepgrowing.

Thank you,

Sunnie