Mary Emma Roberts is now 12 inches of hair lighter! Mary Emma is six years old, but she began donating her hair to charities two years ago when she was just four. Already at this age, Mary Emma had eight inches of hair to spare. So, Mom, Kara Roberts, decided the time had come to donate the hair to Locks of Love.
Mary Emma loves donating her hair for many reasons. The first major reason being the cause for which she was sending her hair. Mary Emma is the proud older sister to brother, Michael, who is affected by ectodermal dysplasia. Mary Emma then explains that while her brother’s hair is not affected by the genetic condition, many children with ectodermal dysplasias are, and therefore that is her cause for action.
Mary Emma also points out that there are even more reasons for her to donate hair.
“It makes riding my bike easier,” Mary Emma said.
We agree that the less helmet hair, the better. She also really dislikes getting haircuts, so one every two years is just her style. Meanwhile, Mary Emma’s mom, Kara, believes that the haircut is an educational opportunity for others and Mary Emma alike.
“Many people really pay attention when they hear a girl her age say that she did it all for her brother,” Kara said.
Wigs for Kids was the charity of choice for the hair donation this go around. Another
National Foundation for Ectodermal Dysplasias (NFED) mom, Alicia Higgins, recommended the charity to the Roberts clan. Alicia and Kara connected online when Kara asked for advice as to where hair was needed the most. They chose Wigs for Kids because they do not charge their client families for the wigs or hair pieces.
The connection Mary Emma shares with the NFED family is strong. She was able to join us for our St. Louis conference this past year and told us that her favorite part of conference was Kays’ Kids camp! She loves it for the movie night and the time to play with her new friends. She gets very animated as she explains how Michael was able to join her for a few of the sessions on Friday.
Mary Emma’s story is one of love and generosity. Such a sacrifice at such a young age can be an example of kindness for all of us. Her donation is about so much more than the hair. It is about raising awareness for a cause that is close to her heart. We cannot wait to see what the future holds for the bright young girl!
More blogs you may be interested in:
- We Volunteer So Others Don’t Feel Lost
- I Will Never Have a Perfect Smile!
- Why I Volunteer for NFED: My Son and Others Like Him