Girl donates hair to charity

BRUNSWICK COUNTY -- It's the little things that can make a difference. And a little act from a little person will make a big difference for someone soon. One young girl cut and donated her hair to an organization that helps kids in a very special way: one that will hopefully help one kid that's near and dear to her heart. Kayla Finnerty is a second-grader at Jessie Mae Monroe Elementary in Brunswick County. Each year Kayla has participated in the St. Jude Children's Hospital math-a-thon, a program that helps raise money for seriously ill children. Through that program Kayla learned about Locks of Love -- another program that gives back to kids by providing hairpieces to those who have lost hair from a diagnosis, like cancer. Her mother says Kayla recently cut 13 inches off to help the cause. Lorena Finnerty said, "In the mornings, brushing long hair, as any parent would know, it's hard. That long hair and the knots -- she didn't have too many knots -- but it'd just get all tangled up and everything. That first day after her haircut, it was wonderful." Kayla's 19-year-old cousin was recently diagnosed with cancer. The day Kayla found out about his disease was the same day she decided to cut her long locks. Kayla's not the only young student at Monroe Elementary who's decided to give back. Administrators say a fifth-grader also decided to cut her hair over the weekend. She donated six inches.