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Arkansas 10-year-old cuts hair for a cause, raises money for children's hospital

A 10-year-old has lots of Christmas presents under his tree, but they're not for him. He's spent the last two years working to get special gifts to cancer patients.

A 10-year-old has lots of Christmas presents under his tree, but they’re not for him. He’s spent the last two years working to get special gifts to cancer patients.

At 8 years old Cooper Wilson did not like haircuts.

“My mom said I had to cut my hair, I did not want to,” Cooper said.

Two years ago, he told his mother he’d keep his hair manageable if he could grow it out. But, his long hair got them thinking about how it could help someone else.

“We wanted to grow it out long enough that he was able to donate it to have a wig made,” his mother Lacey Wilson said.

Cooper decided to donate it to ‘Pantene Beautiful Lengths,’ which collects hair to make wigs for cancer patients.

“My hair wasn’t long enough so we grew it out for another month or two,” Cooper said.

For a total of two years and two weeks he grew out his hair.

“He just has a really kind heart, and so it made me very proud that he wanted to do that,” Lacey said.

During that time, several people tried to convince him to cut his hair but he knew it was for a bigger purpose.

“He has been bribed countless times by numerous people, and he knew that he wanted to be able to grow it out long enough to donate it,” Lacey said.

That got him thinking, what if he could raise $500 to help more cancer patients?

“Asked all of the people that previously bribed him to pay up, make good on their bribes, that way he could go shopping and buy stuff for kids that’s in the oncology/hematology floors at Children’s,” Lacey said.

He felt coloring books and new toys might brighten their spirit.

“If they want to play sports they don’t get that, if they want to go to school they don’t get that," Cooper said. "So really, it’s just the nice thing to do.”

The initiative became what’s called ‘Cooper’s Cut for Cancer.’

It wasn’t long before Cooper started receiving donations from people in the community, like his teachers at Guy Perkins Elementary.

“One of ‘em donated $100," Lacey said. "Some of the cafeteria ladies donated to his cause.”

He collected $850, and on Tuesday, Nov. 20 he got the chop.

“He has a bigger heart as a 10-year old than most adults have, and kids and adults could learn from his passion and his drive to start something and accomplish it,” Lacey said.

With one haircut, he’s hoping to make this Christmas brighter for a lot of people.

“By the end of it, you’ll feel happy in your heart," Cooper said. "By the end of doing it you’ll feel happy, you’ll feel really happy.”

Cooper’s Cut for Cancer isn’t over, he is growing out his hair so he can touch lives once more.

He said he’s grateful for everyone that helped him with his cause.

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