When junior Morgan Laczynski first donated her hair in fourth grade, she thought of it as “just another haircut.”
“When that day came, I didn’t really understand how important it was that I was donating my hair,” Laczynski said.
This year, Laczynski is getting ready to donate her hair again, but with “a bigger purpose.” When her grandfather lost his battle to cancer last year, she never got to do anything to help, but now she feels like she can.
“I am going to donate my hair for a beautiful person to feel human again,” Laczynski said, “just like I wanted for my grandfather.”
Laczynski is one of thousands who have become a Lancer Lengths Angel since the first lock of hair was cut on the gym floor in 2007. Every year, English teacher and pep rally coordinator Steve Juster helps to put on the Day of Giving, where people can donate their hair for those in need of wigs.
“I just want to provide an opportunity for [people to donate],” Juster said.
To Juster, being a part of this program is like “dreaming awake.” Meeting angels every year and hearing their stories has a long-lasting impact on spectators of the donation day.
“These students, who have so many reasons not to [donate], do it…which I love and I’m so honored,” said Juster. “I’m meeting people who are so incredibly generous.”
Juster had intentions of the donations happening in front of the school from the beginning. They first started at the annual winter pep rally until it was decided to create a whole day dedicated to the donations. The day was called the “Day of Giving” due to the magnitude of the event.
“The school being behind [donating] makes a big difference,” said Juster. “If it was a different atmosphere or a different student body, this wouldn’t happen. You really want enough attention so that you make it special for [the angels]. “There’s a lot of emotion on the floor.”
When evaluating situations involving cancer, Juster presents a unique perspective on how to look at it.
“To me, we can say ‘my grandmother passed away’, and it could be a period at the end of the sentence,” Juster said. “Or we could say ‘my grandmother passed away, but I kept her in my memory by donating.’”
To someone who is questioning if they want to donate or not, Juster suggests thinking about waking up the day after the event, and if they think they will be regretful that they weren’t a part of it, he encourages those to donate.
“To me, [donating] is a miracle,” Juster said. “I walk among angels. How many teachers can say that in their lifetime?”
______________________________________________________
2024 Lancer Lengths Angels share why they are donating
