Football player shaves his head to help youth

Lions bantam football player Ryuji Mackay won't have any trouble with his hair getting in the way this season.

At a practice last week, teammates and the coaching staff gathered to see his long strands shaved off to be donated to Angel Hair for Kids.

The 13-year-old started growing his hair during the pandemic and by the time it was cut he had strands 15 inches long.

It was a discussion with his mom that planted the seed.

"She said, hey, you have such nice long hair, you should think about donating it," explains Ryuji. "I thought it was a great idea."

Defensive Coordinator Marc Gelinas had the honors of snipping Ryuki's hair and arranged for it to be donated to Angel Hair for Kids.

He says they were joking around about players shaving their heads for the season after one of the players showed up with his hair buzzed.

Ryuji stepped forward to offer up his hair with one condition, says Gelinas.

"I'll make you a bet, I'll shave my head if we can donate it to charity," he told Gelinas.

Gelinas was quick to make the arrangements.

Ryuji has no regrets about doing it and is happy to have been able to donate it to a worthy cause.

"I was kind of worried about what it would feel like when I lost all my hair, but it was at the point that I was tying it up in the morning so it wouldn't get in my eyes. Now everything is a lot easier because it's gone."

Mackay has played football for three years and is fired up for the season ahead.

On Aug. 20, the Lions participated in the Calgary Minor Football Charity Jamboree and play the Mavericks in their season opener on Aug. 27.

In 2002, Roslyn Yearwood and Amalia Ruggiero created Angel Hair to provide a wig or hair loss solution to increase a child’s self-esteem and confidence during a difficult time in their young lives. Every year, thousands of Canadian children lose their hair to cancer treatments, alopecia, and other medical causes.

Ryuji Mackay after the head shaving.