Deanna Nicholls is donating a foot of hair for wigs for kids with cancer.

Deanna Nicholls admits that sometimes, her hair can be a pain.

The long rope of chestnut brown hangs down her back, stopping just above her waistline. It’s cumbersome to brush. It gets on her clothes and in her drain.

But that’s not the main reason the facilities assistant in the Department of Residences is cutting it all off on Oct. 14. She is donating a foot of hair to be used for wigs for cancer patients as part of Brock’s new Relay for Life event.

Nicholls is one of about eight donors chopping off their locks at the event. She used to have short hair, but started growing it in 2005 for “something different,” she said.

“It made me very identifiable,” she said. “Some students in residence would refer to me as ‘that woman with the ponytail.’”

She’ll be a little sad, she said, but “it’s time.” A big part of the timing is that it will go to A Child’s Voice’s Angel Hair for Kids program.

“It’s part of me,” she said. “But I’ve had it long for a while now and it’s time for a change. I want (Relay for Life) organizers to have fun with it.”

Inspired by the Canadian Cancer Society’s annual St. Catharines event, this Relay for Life benefits the same charity that fundraises for cancer research. It’s a Residence Life-driven event organized by Village Residence dons Phil Jedrzejczak and Garrett Goodbrand.

The dons thought up the fundraiser while pondering events for students in residence, Jedrzejczak said.

“Our goal was to do something for Brock and for a great cause.”

The relay runs from Friday, Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. to Saturday, Oct. 15 at 7 a.m. at the Ian Beddis Gym. About 15 teams have signed up so far, each with eight to 15 members, and more are expected. The goal is to raise $15,000.

The event is the work of Residence Life, Student Life and Community Experience and Brock University. Recreation Services is donating sleeping pads.

There will also be musical entertainment, luminaries for sale and pizza at midnight.

The haircuts will happen at 8 p.m., Jedrzejczak said.

“And we appreciate every individual who’s doing it.”

Donate at the Relay for Life website or at Decew 209 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. until Oct. 14.