Stacy Cox recently donated eight inches of her hair to Pantene Beautiful Lengths.

VALDOSTA — Stacy Cox, 32, recently donated eight inches of her hair to Pantene Beautiful Lengths.

The charitable campaign, launched in 2006, encourages people to grow, cut and donate their own hair to create wigs for the American Cancer Society. The ACS then gives away the “free” wigs to women who have lost their hair from cancer treatments.

Cox learned about the campaign while researching cancer awareness organizations during the recent illness of her grandfather, L.B. Hall. After a short battle of lung cancer, Mr. Hall died in March of this year.

“When you witness a family member suffer from the disease you have a sense of humanity, compassion and willingness to help them and others who are suffering. During his illness he told me, ‘You know, there is nothing anyone can do for me right now, but you do have the chance to help others.’ The day he told me he had cancer I found the Pantene Beautiful Lengths Campaign and began growing my hair,” Cox said.

After six months of growing her hair and the passing of her grandfather, Cox had her locks chopped for charity. In memory of her grandfather on Father’s Day and her 32nd birthday, she had eight inches cut from her beautiful brown locks, packaged up and sent to the campaign’s headquarters.

“Part of any woman’s self-image is defined by her hair. It’s such a great feeling to know that my hair will help someone look and feel better about themselves during their cancer treatments,” Cox said. “I’m hoping to bring attention to this campaign and encourage men, women and children to follow my example by donating their own hair to Pantene Beautiful Lengths.”

Cox continues to participate in cancer research organizations, fundraisers and campaigns in memory of her grandfather. To learn more about the campaign, log on to www.beautifullengths.com.