8-year-old Emirati boy growing hair to donate to cancer organisations

An 8-year-old Emirati boy is growing his hair to donate to cancer care organisations to make wigs for cancer patients.

Omar Mohammed Al Hajjaj, a grade two student at Al Mawakeb School is being praised for his initiative. He has been growing his hair from the age of three, after he witnessed his aunt’s struggle with cancer.

Amira Yousuf, Omar's mother said her children pledged their support to cancer patients after they saw their aunt suffering with cancer.

Omar has donated his hair twice in the past and this year it will be the third time.

His parents have decided to honour his school and cut his hair in the school premises.

Omar's family was part of the inspirational families that were chosen by the Adheedak initiative to meet His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed was proud of Omar and even asked to take a picture with him.

The family-school application Adheedak (Arabic for Your Assistant) seeks to enhance societal cohesion and promote best educational practices.

The initiative will establish stability in the school community and have positive impact on the student's academic, societal and educational performance.

The app provides users/parents with a menu of daily options, activities and tasks including setting dates for picking up their children, attending parent-teacher meetings, engaging in school cultural and entertainment activities including voluntary works, reading books and family fun activities. The app also features ISBN (International Standard Book Number) reader application, QR code, Geolocation, the identification or estimation of the real-world geographic location of an object.