A 14-year-old who grew his hair out for years with a goal of donating it to a sick child has done so. Emilio Santana is currently a ninth grader and in sixth grade he took up wrestling, and this past year, he became the Rhode Island State Champion in his age bracket, and a New England placer.
“My first year was tough. I didn't do so good, but it was more of a learning process for me," said Santana. “Now everyday we come in the wrestling room no matter what, if we’re feeling bad or good. We get on the mat and let everything out.”
Santana, practices at Nathaniel Green under Head Coach David Gonzalez.
“He is one of my top tier leaders and one of the most dependable kids I can rely on," said Gonzalez. “The moment he says he wants to do something, no matter how tough it is, no matter how many odds are stacked against, he’s going to make sure he takes the steps required. He's going to seek that help and make sure he gets it done.”
It was that drive and determination that led him to succeed with his own personal goal.
In the third grade, Santana said he witnessed something that changed his life.
“I saw a little girl, she was at the beach. She was going to the water, and took her hat off, and her hair went with it. It made me want to take action," said Santana. “You could see she was sad, and felt embarrassment and that kind of just stuck with me.”
It was then that he decided to grow out his hair so he could donate it for someone in need.
Santana said he hopes to meet the person who receives his hair.
If he never does, he has a message for them.
“To the person I’m giving my hair to, if I ever see you in the future I’ll say that you’re beautiful either way, with hair, with no hair, and that I really hope my hair brings you joy and puts a smile on your face," he said.
Here's how a local TV station covered this wonderful story.
Photo: Emilio Santana