After growing his hair for 14 months, John Razza had his long locks shaved off on Tuesday.
It was for charity, the Pink Heart Funds and for Razza’s grandmother, Josephine Razza, who was 67 when she died of breast cancer in 1990.
“I wanted to help,” Razza, 34, said. “When I ran into a kid who didn’t have hair, I found a way.”
A Brockton firefighter, husband, father of four and youth sports coach, Razza met the challenge. And his boss helped.
Firefighters must keep their hair short, but Chief Kenneth Galligan gave his blessing in this case.
Razza’s hair grew long enough to cut 6-inch ponytails that Mississippi-based Pink Heart Funds uses to make wigs for children and adults. Each wig costs $465.
The wigs help with the emotional scars of cancer treatment.
He has kept his hair healthy: no blow drying. And, on Tuesday he sought the help of students at Ailano School of Cosmetology, across from the fire station where Razza works.
Justine LeSage and Kristina Lane, both of Abington and heading toward completion of their schooling, stepped up to the plate. They parted Razza’s locks into 15 sections, then with the swift blade of an electric razor, shaved off the ponytails and deposited them in a plastic shower cap.
Razza will package the locks and ship them to the Pink Heart Funds in Long Beach, Miss.
Razza also has planned a comedy night to raise money for the same fund, at 7 p.m. June 28 at Hanabi on Route 139 in Marshfield. The restaurant is waiving costs for the event. There will be five comedians, whose gigs were donated for the fundraiser. Ticket information is not yet available.
ON THE WEB: For more on the charity: www.pinkheartfunds.com
Elaine Allegrini can be reached at eallegrini@enterprisenews.com.