Last Wednesday, Dane Hoffman of McAuliffe Middle School had his hair cut to raise awareness for cancer, and here are some questions asked before and after his haircut.

Q: What was your main inspiration for doing this?

A: A few years ago, on my fall baseball team in El Segundo, one of my teammate’s brothers, named Drake, passed away due to a brain tumor. It was really sad, and we all made a commitment that we would grow our hair and donate it to kids with cancer, so it could be made into wigs or other accessories.

Q: Your main goal?

A: My main goal is just to make someone happy. [To create] a spark.

Q: What will you do in the future to raise awareness?

A: If I were to get famous, then I would donate a lot of money to charities, and I would go on tours and explain the importance of cancer awareness.

Q: Do you plan to continue donating your hair, and for how long?

A: Yes, for the rest of my life.

Q: What kind of impact do you hope to have?

A: I’m hoping not only to make someone’s day better, to give them hope so that they could fight cancer,

Q: Other influences?

A: My dad. He’s the greatest person in the world. You can have long conversations with him. He’s fantastic. He’s the best father I could ever ask for. He’s always been there for me, always done everything, [he’s] always open, [he] always lets you talk, [he will] treat you like an adult, and [he] will always tell the truth he told me how he had long hair before, and I thought, “let’s move on from bowl cut to long hair, [I] may as well enjoy it while it lasts.

Q: How are you feeling? (before the haircut)

A: I’m feeling good, and I’m also just reflecting on everything that has happened. I just miss Drake. That’s mainly my feeling, I just miss him.

Q: How are you feeling? (after)

A: Proud.

Q: Message to others?

A: Be aware, and try your best to help treat everyone with respect and kindness, even if they don’t treat you with it.