The simple act of trimming a few inches of hair can make a tremendous difference to the lives of those suffering from deadly diseases. That's what some 20 long-haired women from northeast China's Jilin Province believed when they came together at a barbershop on a cold winter morning to donate their hair to cancer-stricken children struggling with hair loss.

Most of the women are mothers acquainted with each other through a local philanthropic WeChat group. Tang Chunyue, one of the hair donors, initially thought that short hair was not suitable for her style.

"But I thought it was worth it when I was cutting my hair and imagining how happy the young patients would be with their new long hair," she stressed.

The barber said each donor has to have at least 40 centimeters of fine, smooth, healthy hair to cut. Making a wig for children usually needs hair from two to three adults. Since children receiving chemotherapy cannot use wigs made from chemical fibers, it usually costs thousands of yuan for them to buy a wig made of real hair in a store.

But here, haircuts are free, as is wig-making which will be done voluntarily in a factory in Shanghai.

It's been a year since Jilin Traffic Radio first launched this campaign, calling on the listeners to help those in need. Hong Bing, an anchor of Jilin Traffic Radio, said every year over a hundred cancer-stricken kids wish they could have long hair to braid at the Oncology Department of the First Hospital of Jilin University.

"We hope more people can donate their hair and give these families hope and strength," Hong explained. Since then, over 200 people from across the country have donated their hair with the help of various hair salons and philanthropic organizations. Nearly a hundred children have gotten new wigs.

Meiqi, as one of the them, finally grew her own beautiful ponytail she had always wanted as she left the hospital and went back to school. But Meiqi's mother Hu Yue told us that just one year ago her girl lost all her hair and hardly mingled with other kindergartners. 

"Those who don't know much about or are afraid of the disease tend to isolate her seeing her bald head," said Mrs Hu.

"Grandmas, aunts and sisters cut off their long hair and gave it to me," said Meiqi, remembering how she had been helped. Her mother was happy to see Meiqi improving psychological condition from this.

As Zhang Yuan, head nurse of the hospital's oncology department said, it's not just a wig but a protective umbrella that keeps a young, sensitive mind away from prejudice and stereotypes.

"Hair can grow back, but time without hair is torturous. Fear of the future can be a blow to these children. But after they accept the wigs, I think they regain their confidence and happiness," she added.

The new batch of wigs will soon bring new hope to dozens of other young patients undergoing treatment. As non-governmental public welfare activities in China have been increasing rapidly in the past decades, they are expected to bring warmth to more overlooked groups.