Nine-year-old South Surrey resident Dakota Keith hasn’t had a hair cut since last Christmas.
She’s been growing it long so she can donate to Wigs for Kids B.C., the agency that raises money to provide custom-fitted, human-hair wigs for children who have lost their hair due to cancer or other serious illnesses.
It’s her way of honoring the memory of her friend, Bella, who died two years ago at a young age from Leigh’s Syndrome, an inherited illness.
Bella and Dakota became friends in kindergarten, and when Bella was diagnosed, Dakota and her mother, Nikki, got involved in fundraising to finance much-needed equipment for Bella.
Mother and daughter went from business to business to solicit donations for silent auctions that raised over $16,000 for Bella and her family.
Dakota has taken on other causes since then, asking for donations to fill Samaritans Purse Boxes for children in Third World countries instead of birthday presents when she turned eight and requesting donations for Adopt a Family at Christmas when she turned nine.
Last year, just before Christmas, Dakota announced that she was going to grow her hair and donate it to kids who had cancer.
She also decided to raise money for the charity by soliciting donations from family and friends.
Anyone wishing to help Dakota can contribute by visiting www.wigsforkidsbc.com and clicking on the Blue Ribbon on the Donating page. Donations can then be made in Dakota’s name.