October begins Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time established to educate and support diagnosed patients as well as bring awareness to a disease that takes away the lives of millions of women and men. For freshman Ihor Zhydetskyi, Breast Cancer is an important cause; for this reason, he cut off his hair to donate to Locks of Love.

Locks of Love is an organization that donates hair to disadvantaged children under the age of 21 suffering from any medical diagnosis; their mission is to help children suffering from hair loss and encourage anyone to donate. Zhydetskyi discovered the organization through his mother who likes to browse the internet.

“[Locks of Love] basically provides emotional support for people or children with cancer. [The organization] collects donated hair to make it into a wig and donate it to people with [hair loss],” Zhydetskyi said.

Zhydetskyi has been growing out his hair for five years and does not plan to stop in the near future. He was finally ready to cut it off, but that does not mean he was ready to say goodbye to the long hair.

“I once was bald and I hated it so much I started growing out my hair,” Zhydetskyi said. “About two weeks after I started, my mom told me there were some charities for donating hair for emotional support.”

Zhydetskyi has been using this opportunity to make a positive impact on people’s lives. He enjoys helping and doing anything he can to be kind to everyone. He wants to do things that he is proud of and cutting his hair to improve the lives of discomforted children is something that he is happy to do.

“Cancer is scary and I think that everyone should help make it easier for people who have it by spreading positivity,” Zhydetskyi said.

Zhydetskyi encourages people who are willing to visit the website to donate what they can. On the Locks of Love website, there are many ways someone can donate; the most popular being hair donations and financial donations. There are many requirements that anyone who is considering donating should check first.

The big cut was made on Sept. 20, 2022. Zhydetskyi cut 25 inches off his hair, but only 17 of them were used.

“I feel quite different because I am not used to having my head feel lightweight without the weight of the hair,” Zhydetskyi said. “My neck also gets sunburnt easily because it hasn’t seen the sunlight in about four years.”

Zhydetskyi is new to Parkland and has been moving around his whole life. He was born in Ukraine and from there, he moved all around the states. He also has a range of hobbies that include running, cooking and chemistry. His biggest accomplishment is completing his pilot’s license at 13 and he is waiting to begin flying at 16.

Zhydetskyi’s biggest goal is spreading positivity with his donations and he wishes to continue throughout his life. Zhydetskyi is making a difference by advocating for Breast Cancer and by cutting his hair, he is recognizing the lives of the women and men who suffer from it.