Fang Mengying had been keeping her long hair for five years, but had it cut off last November at an event encouraging people to donate their hair to make wigs for children suffering from cancer.  

"What I want is to help them recover from the fear of cancer and the discrimination from the others," Fang said in an interview.

She was one of 20 women who took part in the activity initiated by a local radio station in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin province. Since June 2018, over 200 women have donated their tresses to make wigs for children with cancer.

Last week, children undergoing chemotherapy in the First Hospital of Jinlin University received their new wigs. According to Chinese news media CCTV, these wigs made of volunteers' hair were given free by a company from Shanghai.

Since children undergoing chemotherapy can't touch wigs made of chemical fiber and wigs made of human hair are too expensive, many of them have had to wear hats after several rounds of their chemotherapy.

Most volunteers who donated their hair had been growing it for at least three to four years, which is the amount of time it takes to grow the required minimum 40 centimeters of hair.  

Volunteers packed the space of a barbershop named Lilbit on Mudan Street in Changchun in the morning of November 30. 

"Sitting here I can even see how happy children will be when they receive wigs. It definitely worth it," Tang Chunyue, one of the volunteers, told CCTV.

Their kindness and generosity have been praised by many, but more importantly, these wigs mean a lot to children in the process fighting cancer.

"She doesn't want to play outdoors after losing hair, not even wanting to go to kindergarten," said Hu Yue, whose daughter has been taking chemotherapy for months. "Those who do not understand tumors would be afraid to play with her, especially when they see her bald.”

Hu wanted her daughter to remember the kindness from the society because wearing wigs helped her to better communicate with others and not look down on herself.

"A wig is not necessary but it means a lot to a child in chemotherapy. It gives them confidence, happiness and protects them from social discrimination" said Zhang Yuan, chief nurse of the child oncology department at the First Hospital of Jinlin University.

Hong Bing, the host from the local radio station said the activity initiated two years ago has helped over 100 children receive free wigs.

In the recent broadcast, she thanked volunteers and called for more to participate since many children are still dreaming for a head full of hair.