Eleven-year-old boy’s long locks get the chop in honour of his grandpa

By Jemma Jones

Dec 4, 2024

After watching his grandpa lose his battle with brain cancer, a then-six-year-old Ben Barnard knew he needed to do something to show cancer who was boss in his family.

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On Tuesday, November 26 — more than five years since the passing of his beloved grandpa — Ben sat in the hairdresser’s chair, completely prepared to cut off the hair he’d grown out for the past three years — a whole 30cm of blond locks.

It was no accident that his hair grew that long; however, it wasn’t because of a personal affinity with long hair, nor did he enjoy long hair for styling purposes.

No, it was a plan set in motion three years ago when Ben figured out what he wanted to do to honour his grandpa: donate his hair to Hair with Heart.

So, where does a then-eight-year-old get the idea to chop off his hair to give to a stranger?

It’s a question even his mum, Samantha Barnard, can’t answer.

“I was a bit confused as to where he’d come up with the idea,” she said.

“It’s been all completely on his own — he came up with the suggestion and he’s the one that’s gone through with it.”

Mrs Barnard said the death of her father-in-law in 2019 sent shockwaves through her family and everyone “felt a bit helpless”, including Ben, who sought ways to deal with the grief.

“I think it was his way of finding something that he could do to be useful and helpful,” Mrs Barnard said.

Speaking before the big chop, she said it would be “a real shock” seeing his hair cut off, but there were a few things to look forward to.

“We’re all just very, very proud of what he’s been able to accomplish,” she said.

“But I’m going to enjoy not having the argument about brushing hair any more.”

**Ben holding his locks ready to be sent off to Hair with Heart.** Photo by Contributed

Ben said his friends had supported him through his journey, with his classmates and teachers donating to his fundraiser.

By Tuesday, November 26, his online fundraiser page had raised $501 — hitting his goal of raising $500, which will all be donated to Hair with Heart along with his locks.

Hair with Heart is an organisation that offers comfort to cancer patients who have lost their hair during treatment, providing them with wigs crafted from real hair generously donated by individuals such as Ben.

As for his locks, Ben said it was going to take a few days to adjust to not having long hair weighing him down.

“I reckon I’m going to feel a bit weird for a couple of days, and then I’ll start to get used to it again,” he said.

“I joined my school this year, so all of my friends at school have only seen me with long hair, so I think it’s going to take them a bit to get used to me having short hair too.”

While the weirdness will subside quickly, the impact his donation will have on a stranger’s life will have lasting importance.

“It feels really good to be a part of this and that people are banding together to help get rid of cancer all together,” Ben said.