Boy Grew His Hair For Two Years To Donate To Cancer Victims, Despite Bullying


Christian McPhilamy, from Melbourne, Florida, saw an advertisement for Jude Children’s Research Hospital when he was just six-years-old. The Michigan-based charity provides a free hair piece every year for children who have lost their hair because of cancer, burns, or similar events. The advertisement changed his life, and he decided he wanted to help those children in need, according to METRO.

Christian did research and decided to grow his hair, so that he could donate it to those in need. He grew his hair for two years and reached his goal of donating four ponytails of hair measuring 11 to 12 inches long to the Children with Hair Loss foundation.

But it wasn’t an easy road during those years. Sadly, Christian was unkindly taunted and bullied by children and adults alike despite the good deed he was doing. But, admirably, he never strayed from his goal of helping others. His mother, Deanna Thomas, stated the following, according to METRO.

“He has chosen to donate to the ‘Children with Hair Loss’ foundation. He has endured an awful lot of criticism, and yes even bullying, throughout this time. From his peers calling him a girl to even coaches and family friends telling him he should cut it or offering him money to. Even still, he has never once strayed from his goal and always took the time to educate others on why he made the choice to grow his hair. I am one proud mommy as always.”

Christian stated the following about what he went through and his goals, according to The Independent.

“[S]ome people tried to call me a girl. [The mean comments made him feel] not very good…. I just wanted to give a wig away.”

Christian and his sister had instilled in them at a very young age that they should care about and help others. So his altruistic, kind gesture should come as no surprise. Even as young toddlers, they routinely donated clothes and toys to sharing centers and others who need. To brighten peoples’ day, they would leave popcorn and a dollar at Redbox kiosks. They also participated in a “dollar dash,” where they would hide dollars throughout discount stores for unsuspecting shoppers to find — all to help make others happy. Even at two-and-a-half years, he wanted to donate his Big Wheel to a child who didn’t have one. And having a bout of toxic synovitis, a bacterial inflammation of the joints, and being hospitalized for a couple of weeks probably made him even more sensitive to the plight of others.

Some people are born to help others. Another is Arlie Smith, 45, is a Costco greeter at a store in Danville, in northern California. He was known to be a very friendly greeter who tried to cheer others up, despite his own problems. He was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis over two years ago. His mother also has MS. Unfortunately, in addition to MS, he also was diagnosed in September with kidney cancer, which has spread to his bones. He was given a diagnosis of less than three years to live. Despite his troubles, he routinely tries to cheer up customers and attempted to raise money for cancer patients, according to an article in the Inquisitr.

[Photo Courtesy Facebook]

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