RANDOLPH — After wearing his hair long for nearly 10 years, Cole Bingerman was ready for a change that would make an impact on a child suffering from hair loss due to medical reasons.

The Randolph man recently donated 15 inches of his golden brown tresses to Wigs for Kids. This organization provides free hairpieces to children up to 18 years old who are battling hair loss due to chemotherapy, radiation therapy, Alopecia, Trichotillomania, burns and other medical circumstances.

Bingerman, 29, who is an electronic bench technician at New Flyer in Jamestown, said he didn’t grow his hair long all those years with donating it in mind someday — he grew it just because he liked it that way.

Ready for a big change, he decided to get his long locks cut short into a standard man’s cut a few weeks ago. On his first full day without his long hair, he got a sunburn on his neck.

Before Bingerman got his long locks sheared off, he did some research with his girlfriend, Aunalee, and mother, Nita, who encouraged him to donate his hair to Wigs for Kids because they make wigs for children at no cost to the recipients. He thought the cost of a wig would be a barrier to some families, and he wanted to help children in need.

“I had already decided that I wanted to donate my hair. I didn’t want to just get it cut off when I knew there were people out there that could use it,” he said. “I wonder why some organizations are charging money when people like me are donating to help people that need hair.”

Hairstylist Jessica Bird Eaton of Allegany prepared Bingerman’s hair to the required specifications to send to Wigs for Kids. She took care of the process from braiding his hair and cutting off the 15-inch braid to packaging the hair and mailing it.

“Jessica told me she had already cut the hair of four guys who donated their hair this year,” he said. “She said it was quite surprising because she’s had so many more people donate their hair this year, compared to other years. My nephew was one of them. He’s had long hair for the last 22 years. He just got his cut and donated it through her.”

Cole Bingerman has worn his hair long for nearly a decade, but needed a change this summer. He decided to get his locks cut short and to donate his hair to “Wigs for Kids.”

SINCE ITS FOUNDING in 1981, the Wigs For Kids mission has been “helping children look like themselves and live their lives.” Members of the organization know that the effects of hair loss in children go deeper than just a change in their outward appearance. Their goal is to give recipients the self-esteem and self-image they deserve, and to help restore a child’s self-confidence as quickly as they can.

According to wigsforkids.org, the process for creating these hairpieces takes time, and the cost of producing each human hair wig runs in excess of $1,800. Thanks in large part to generous donors, the organization can offer its hairpieces free of charge to eligible recipients.

“These are custom-made hair replacements. Each prosthesis is hand-tied and is made completely from human hair. We make sure they look just like a child’s own hair,” said founder Jeffrey Paul. “Because kids look just the way they did before, they feel better about themselves. They look in the mirror and their eyes light up. To see that light in their eyes — that’s priceless.”

Although Bingerman does not know any children who have lost their hair due to illness and medical treatments, he knows several older adults who have lost theirs as a result of cancer.

“Hair loss affects everybody, no matter their age,” he said. “I’m hoping this article will inspire others to donate their hair, or at least start thinking about donating it.”

For anyone who is interested in donating their hair to kids in need, it must be at least 12 inches long, but 14 inches or more is preferred. The hair must be braided or banded, clean and dry, as well as chemical-free with no dyes or perms. Gray hair is also accepted. The donated braid or ponytail is put in a sealed Ziploc-type bag and then inside a sealed envelope addressed to Wigs For Kids – Hair Donations, 24231 Center Ridge Road, Westlake, Ohio 44145. Donors will find a donation form and receive a barcode online at wigsforkids.org.

For more details, call 1 (440) 333-4433, or visit wigsforkids.org where monetary donations may be made and people can start a fundraiser. Another way to help with donating to kids is through the Sponsor a Child program.