When her cousin donated her long hair to Locks of Love, Cecelia Thompson knew she wanted to do the same thing. It just took a long time to grow out! explains the seven-year old with a toothless grin.

Locks of Love is a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children who are suffering from long-term medical hair loss. The organization meets a unique need for children by using donated hair to create high-quality hair prosthetics. The prostheses provided help restore their confidence, enabling them to face the world and their peers.

Cecelia loved the idea of sharing her hair with another child, so she spent more than two years growing the required ten-inch minimum the organization accepts. When the day came that her hair was long enough, her mother, Charley Thompson, treated her to a big girl appointment at Wink in Asheville. There, owner Christine DiBenedetto gave her a cute new do. Charley has also donated her hair to Locks of Love in the past.

Cecelia says she is already growing her hair out for her next donation, but next time, I am taking my little sister, so she can donate too! To learn more about Locks of Love, visit locksoflove.org or call 888-896-1588.