Curls for cancer

Alabama teen donates his hair for children

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Kieran Moise’s afro was a splendid 19 inches, a huge part of his personality. But after six years of growth, the 17-year-old Alabamian knew he and his hair would soon be parted: He was bound for the U.S. Air Force Academy.

So in memory of a friend who died from cancer, he cut it off and donated it to the nonprofit Children With Hair Loss, which provides human hair replacements to children and teenagers facing medically related hair loss due to cancer treatments, alopecia and burns.

“I knew I didn’t want it to just get it cut off and thrown on the floor, so I wanted to give back,” he said. “I knew I wanted to send a message.”

He did — and many responded. Moise printed flyers and spread the word on social media for an event held by the nonprofit group at a brewery in Huntsville. There, family, friends and even some of his elementary and middle school teachers took turns cutting his hair in braids. His story was widely shared online.

“It’s good to see good news and see … that people are still doing good things, because all it does is inspire others,” he said.

“That’s really what I want to come out of this. I want other people to (say), ‘Hey, if he’s doing this, so can I.’”

Moise also launched a fundraiser through St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which helped his late classmate, Josh Quist. He died when they were in middle school.

“That’s when I started hating cancer,” Moise said.

Initially, Moise hoped he could raise $19,000, or $1,000 per inch of hair. “Kieran’s Curls for Cancer” has exceeded expectations and has already raised nearly $35,000 for St. Jude.

Small gestures of kindness, Moise said, can spread.

“When you smile, that usually makes someone else smile, and then that one smile can brighten someone else’s day,” he said.

“I know I’ve had rough days where someone just does something nice for me or I see them do something nice to someone else, and I remember that the whole day.”

“I knew I didn’t want it to just get it cut off and thrown on the floor, so I wanted to give back. I knew I wanted to send a message.”

— Kieran Moise

(Courtesy Photo/Gregg Gelmis) Family friend Amber Bray (left) cuts a braid from Kieran Moise’s hair during a public fundraiser held to donate his 19-inch hair to the nonprofit Children with Hair Loss in Huntsville,

Moise has his 19-inch hair prepared to be cut. So far “Kieran’s Curls for Cancer” has raised $35,000.

Kelly Moise hugs her son Kieran after cutting the last braid from his hair.

Barber Jeff Johnson (left) cuts Moise’s hair.