While many nine-year-old girls focus on their favourite toy, school or spending time with their friends, Taylor Matthyser from Elspark is slowly making a difference in the community.
Taylor was just four years old when she first decided to grow her hair for Cansa, and her determination has not wavered in the years that followed.
The GCN first met Taylor when she donated her first ponytail to Cansa at the tender age of seven.
She made the decision to donate her hair when her grandmother was diagnosed with cancer.
“My mother was diagnosed with cancer in 2012 and, during the cancer treatments, she lost her hair.
“My wife and I explained to Taylor what was happening and it was then she decided to grow her hair,” said Steven, Taylor’s father.
Sadly Taylor’s grandmother passed away, but Taylor remained determined to grow her hair.
Her donated ponytail was taken to Cansa’s head office in 2015 where it was made into a wig.
This experience inspired Taylor and no sooner had she sealed the Ziplock bag than she began growing her hair once again.
“I decided to grow and cut my hair again because there are girls out there who can’t grow their own hair and I can grow my hair as long as Rapunzel’s if I want to,” she said.
“I want my hair to be donated to a little girl.”
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In October this year she was finally ready to cut her hair.
“We wanted to have the event in October as it is a month when the focus is on women’s cancers and Taylor started this journey because of her grandmother,” explained Charlene, Taylor’s mother.
The family decided to get the community involved and held a Cansa event at the Elsburg sports grounds, during which Taylor and Charlene cut off their ponytails.
“Taylor donated 26cm and I donated 28cm of hair.
“We were the only people who donated ponytails at this year’s event, but Steven shaved his head and Taylor’s brother Jordan had his hair spray-painted,” said Charlene.
Community members who attended the event were able to show their support by spraying their hair and Taylor had fun helping to colour people’s hair and looks forward to doing it again next year.
The family thanked Consol Glass in Wadeville, Spar in Sunward Park, Laser Lipo House, Wit Blitz Performance, Medizone, Kinetic Signs and Graphics and the Elsburg Eagles Rugby Club for their assistance in making the event a success.
The family is now turning their attention to next year’s event as they aim to make this an annual event.
“We recently joined the Moon Chasers SMC and together we are starting to plan for next year,” said Charlene.
When asked if she’ll stop donating her hair, Taylor firmly stated, “I will continue to donate hair until I die.”
“We don’t push her to make the donations, but will support her 100 per cent until the day she says you know what, this isn’t for me,” said Charlene proudly.
Taylor is now challenging the community to get involved and is encouraging more people to grow and donate their hair for the cause that is so close to her heart.
“Cut your hair for Cansa because together we can make a difference,” she said
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