The power one person has to make a difference was never more evident than Friday at Jennie Emery Elementary School in Coaldale.
A school assembly, with its roots going back almost three years, focused on a student-led drive to raise funds and donate hair to create wigs for children who have lost their hair to cancer or other illness.
Ethan Meyer led the charge, deciding at the age of six to grow his hair out and donate it. Now in Grade 4, the nine-year-old son of a physician already has his sight set on following in his father’s footsteps.
“I’m interested in being a doctor when I’m older.”
His natural compassion and curiosity means he often asks his father about his patients and how they are doing in their recovery.
Over the years some of his dad’s patients have been dealing with cancer and he felt compelled to do something to help them and others like them.
“I didn’t know what to do. I felt bad for them.”
As a student he learned about the Terry Fox Run and realized he could do something to make a difference. He decided to grow his hair out and donate it, even though at times over the last three years it has been challenging to keep it long.
He’s been called a girl, teased about his long hair and even kicked out of boys’ bathrooms.
Friday morning at Jennie Emery he led the assembly and had his head shaved. He was joined by several other students and adults in attendance including his dad, his big brother and Principal Dave Fender.
A number of students also cut their hair so they could donate their locks to create wigs while 120 students donated at least $5 each so they could have their hair sprayed with pink streaks.
“It’s been really bugging me,” said Meyer of his locks just before they were shaved off. “I’m sick of it.”
In addition to donating his hair, Meyer also raised $2,532 to send along with the hair. He said it takes $1,500 to $3,000 to make a wig and he wanted to donate the money to help cover that cost.
He said the whole experience and the celebration Friday morning at his school has taught him a lot especially how it feels to help others. Students shared a poem and sang a hair themed song to accompany him while he took his seat in front of the assembly.
Students and staff at the school also raised money for the event. A total of $2,213 was donated to the Pediatric wing of the Lethbridge Regional Hospital.
“I’m excited,” said Meyer as he first faced the scissors and then the clippers. The first snip left him in a bit of shock and it took him a minute or two to adjust to his shaved head but he quickly took up the clippers to shave his father’s head.
“It makes you very proud,” said his father, Johan. “I was crying for him.”
He added it was hard to put into words what he was feeling watching his son and the morning’s celebration unfold.
“He’s just a passionate kid.”
His 17-year-old brother Estian said he couldn’t have done what his younger brother did.
“Right now I couldn’t be more proud of him.”
He said, as the older brother, he even gave him a hard time about his hair but he’s proud of what he has accomplished.
Even five-year-old sister Taite got in on the action, spraying her hair pink, after their mother, Chantal, said no to her shaving her head too.
Meyer’s mother said was very proud of the fact he stuck with his plan for three years in order to grow his hair out long enough to donate.
“I didn’t think he would follow through.”
Even when he was teased he still stuck with his plan.
“He followed through with it because he had a goal.”
She praised the school’s principal for taking the idea for the head shaving assembly and running with it.
“He’s the one who took it and made it grow,” she said.
“Small hearts make big things happen.”
Fender told the assembly to remember the difference one person can make. “Ethan is proof of that today.”