Laois boy grows out his hair to donate to children with cancer

A young boy from Mountmellick has spent the past four years growing out his hair to donate to charity.

Conor Delaney first began growing out his hair after his brother’s friend was diagnosed with cancer. He now plans to cut his hair on Friday October 25, and donate it to the Locks of Love for LauraLynn Hair Donation Fundraiser.

The charity will use Conor's donated hair to make wigs for children undergoing chemotherapy.

“Back when he was in second class, there was a boy who was friends with our second son Oisin, and he had taken ill,” Conor’s mother Sabrina Delaney explained.

“After the summer, Conor saw him at The Rock GAA pitch, and the little boy was going through chemo. Conor asked me what happened to him, and where his hair had went. I explained that his medicine is making him better, but he is losing his hair,” she said.

Pictured: Conor Delaney from Mountmellick

“Conor has always had longish curly hair, everyone knows him for it. He asked me if he could give the little boy his own hair, and when I told him it was too short to do it, he decided there and then that he would grow his hair to help some other children,” she said.

Four years later, Conor is now 11 years old and has grown his hair down to his waist. He plans to donate his hair to Laura Lynn this October.

Over the last four years, Conor has faced bullying over the length of his hair.

“It hasn’t been easy on him,” Mrs Delaney said.

“Conor plays music, he goes to different Comhaltas groups and is a member of Music Generation Laois, so he is always out meeting new people. People always assume he’s a girl, no matter where he goes,” she said.

Pictured: Conor in second class, when he first decided to grow out his hair for charity.

“Kids can be very mean. With adults, he takes it on the chin and just politely corrects them, and they apologise profusely for their mistake.

“This has all been Conor’s idea, he chose to grow out his hair and run this fundraiser. He came up with it all himself, we’re just doing the technical side of things for him,” Mrs Delaney explained.

“The plan is for Conor to cut his hair in The Rock school on the Friday before they break up for Halloween. The school have been brilliant, they have supported him 150% on this,” she said.

“Martina Coss will cut his hair, she’s a brilliant barber in Portlaoise,” she said.

Pictured: Conor will cut his hair in The Rock National School this month.

Conor’s parents have said that they are overwhelmingly grateful for the amount of support they are receiving.

“We can’t believe how many people are donating and sharing our fundraiser,” she said.

“It seems to have completely taken off. So many little girls do it for charity, I think we could have received all this attention because Conor is a young boy doing it instead. We’ve managed to raise over €960 in the first day alone,” Mrs Delaney said.

“As parents, we are very proud of him for doing this for both his kindness and strength over the past four years, and are trying to help him by asking people to support his strength by donating to Laura Lynn,” she finished.

Those who wish to donate to Conor’s fundraiser for LauraLynn can do so here.