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Originally published in The Bismarck Tribune
Reported by Cindy Peterson

Nick Thornton-Jack hasn't visited a barber since June 5, 2005.

His black thick locks have been his signature ever since he came to the University of Mary.

Thornton-Jack's long ponytail, which always dangled down his back, was always noticeable when he suited up for the U-Mary football team.

The senior from Seattle is going say goodbye to his mane this weekend. Thornton-Jack will have his ponytail clipped and shave his head. He's donating his ponytail and hair to Locks of Love, which helps provide wigs to cancer patients.

In conjunction with shaving his head, Thornton-Jack is looking to raise at least $1,000 for the St. Baldrick's Foundation, which helps cancer patients.

The ponytail will be cut during halftime of Saturday's men's basketball game against Wayne State. The person who donates the most money gets the honor of shaving Thornton-Jack's head.

"It will be a really heart-warming type of thing," Thornton-Jack said. "I'm glad I get to share it with everybody. It will be a fun night."

Thornton-Jack's interest in cancer awareness started in high school when two of his close friends lost their mothers to the disease.

"Both had wigs, and I wanted to do something to (in honor of) them," he said. "I've always had a good relationship with my parents, but those two ladies were like my second mom. I had long relationships with these ladies and got attached to them. It was painful when they passed away."

U-Mary baseball coach Brad Walsh dared Thornton-Jack to donate his locks. In exchange for shaving his head, Walsh promised Thornton-Jack a collegiate at-bat.

"I will be on the roster," Thornton-Jack said. "I will be with all these baseball-sized kids. There will be No. 35, a kid from Seattle, Washington, that's a lineman."

Thornton-Jack always kept his hair short until he came to North Dakota. He thought long hair might help provide him some warmth during the chilly winters. Long hair is also common trait in his Polynesian heritage.

Being able to donate his locks has been the driving force in growing his hair out. Having long hair was an adjustment.

"Back when I had short hair I'd have a bottle of body wash and be OK," Thornton-Jack said. "Now I have shampoos and conditioners, and I do that every other day. I have gone through 12 hairbrushes."

Ever since he grew his hair out, Thornton-Jack said he trimmed it every three or four weeks from a pseudo barber.

"After five years you grow pretty fond of something," Thornton-Jack said. "It's been a signature for me. I'm a big long-haired islander kid. Now I'll be a big islander kid who used to play on the offensive line."

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