Eli Leukefeld had 12 inches of his hair cut off earlier this month to donate to Locks of Love.
The 10-year-old, along with his parents, Kurt and Tanya Leukefeld, and siblings, Adlea and Asher, was visiting Ladner from Calgary for Christmas. Eli wanted to come "home" so he could get his hair cut in front of family and friends as both sets of grandparents, Carol and Harald Leukefeld and Decima and John Mitchell, live in Ladner.
His hair was 16 inches in length before it was cut and donated towards a wig for a young person with cancer. He had grown his hair for two years.
Tricia Vandenberg from Design Tech Hair Studio in Richmond offered to cut Eli's hair free of charge and welcomed all 18 invited guests to watch at the salon.
Eli's mom has participated in the Ride to Conquer Cancer for several years and it was after her third year riding that Eli asked what he could do to help someone with cancer. He knew he had a "gift" with his curly hair so he decided to start growing it with the intent to donate it to a person around his age who is fighting cancer.
When asked how he liked his short hair, Eli responded, "It won't be short for long. I am going to start growing it again right away."
