Jessica Micallef
Xander may be small in size, but he has a mighty heart.
The seven-year-old Sunbury boy has been growing his hair for nearly two years so he can cut it off and donate it to Sustainable Salons to turn into a wig.
His mum Tace Watson said Xander decided to embark on this journey in February last year when he was just five-years-old.
“One of my friends is a hairdresser and her client was having her hair chopped off and Xander asked why,” she said.
“I explained that people get sick with cancer and they lose hair due to treatment … and then he said he was going to grow his hair.”
“My dad passed away from cancer … when Xander was 10 weeks old .
After nearly two years of growing long locks, Xander’s hair is 25 centimetres long.
“It takes about 20 ponytails to make one wig so it’s a lot of hair,” Ms Watson said.
“I also want to raise awareness that boys can grow their hair, it’s not just limited to girls.
“He has been bullied quite badly. He was called a girl and really nasty names and he’s had his hair pulled out.
“But he doesn’t care what anyone else thinks.”
Xander is also raising money for the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and has so far raised more than $800.
“I am bursting at the seams with how proud we are. His commitment has been outstanding,” Ms Watson said.
“It makes me happy to know that I am raising a really compassionate boy who would do anything for anyone.”
Xander is cutting his hair on December 11 at 52 Hair Co in Essendon.
To donate: bit.ly/36LzJOj
