NewsPasco County

Actions

Despite getting teased, middle-school boy grows his hair long to help kids with cancer

Donating Maggie's Wigs4Kids
Despite getting teased, middle-school boy grows his hair long to help kids with cancer
Posted at 6:01 AM, Nov 30, 2018
and last updated 2018-11-30 06:01:09-05

NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. — The kids teased him, called him “Goldilocks.”

But for the past two years, Paul Lintelman refused to cut his hair.

He had a very good reason that he mostly kept to himself.

A 13-year-old eighth-grader at Bayonet Point Middle in New Port Richey, Paul grew out his Thor-like mane to help kids with cancer.

He wanted them to have his hair.

“I asked my mom if I could donate my hair because it’s long,” he says, getting ready to have more than eight inches of his blonde locks shorn at a neighborhood Sport Clips. “And she said sure.”

Paul’s mother, Beth Lintelman, says her son’s determination has been inspiring.

“To be a 13-year-old boy in middle school, to grow your hair long, to not look like anybody else,” says Beth. “But to not let it phase you, not let it stop you!”

Paul will donate his hair to Maggie’s Wigs4Kids. Because there’s often a shortage of wigs for young male cancer patients, Paul’s hair is extra special.

“It doesn’t matter what people call you,” says Paul. “Just do what you want to do.”