Firefighters in Portage, Indiana, were used to keeping their hair cut short and clean, but when they saw an opportunity to help a local family they decided to forgo the barber for a while. When firefighter Tom Colvin found out that Eli Alexander, a local 3-year-old had been diagnosed with Leukemia, he and seven of his colleagues began growing out their hair as part of a fundraiser. The firefighters were quickly joined by a city street manager and a fire department chaplain.
The group initially began growing their hair in March 2015 with plans to donate any funds they collected to the St. Baldrick's Foundation. However, they were told about Alexander and shifted their efforts to help the child and his family. Alexander has gone through multiple surgeries and chemotherapy.
Many of the participating firefighters told NWI.com that they had family members affected by cancer, so they were happy to be able to help the Alexander family. The 3-year-old is expected to receive news on his recovery next month, but the firefighters have extended their fundraising efforts through March 2016.
Alexander's mother told the news source she was extremely grateful fro what Colvin and the other men have done for her son.