Adam Frazier | Special to The Roanoke Times

Amy Kinsley, master stylist at Tivon Salon and Day Spa in Blacksburg, cuts off James Gray III’s 18-inch ponytail for Locks of Love.

James Gray III has been growing his hair for the past 30 months.

Despite opposition from family and friends, the 31-year-old has kept growing it for a reason -- he is donating it to Locks of Love.

Gray, a graduate of Virginia Tech's Wood Science and Forest Products Program, works for Montgomery County Public Schools as a counselor and teacher at an alternative school in Christiansburg, an alternative school for at-risk youth.

The story of why Gray has been so devout in growing his locks starts with a boy and his father and an event that changed Gray's life.

Spending time with dad

A great deal of Gray's childhood was spent in the Boy Scouts. Gray joined the Cub Scouts as a means of growing close to his father.

"It's all I could think of because it meant time in the woods -- camping, fishing, -- being close to my dad."

His father, James Gray Jr., would look forward to spending time with him in the Scouting program alongside other fathers and sons.

That all changed when Gray's father was diagnosed with diabetes when Gray was 7.

Gray would watch as his father tested and monitored blood sugar levels while administering shots of insulin into his torso every day.

"I remember the stacks and stacks of pills he would have to take," he said.

By the time Gray was 12, his father was always going in and out of the hospital. Though his condition worsened, Gray still spent a great amount of time with his father.

"A number of Saturdays in those years were spent in a common way, watching cartoons in the morning, Westerns in the afternoon and playing outside with friends."

There were many days, however, where he spent a different kind of quality time with his father.

"I would be in the den with the blinds pulled, and my dad would be sitting in the recliner with gauze patches over his eyes because of hemorrhaging blood vessels that led to several eye surgeries," he remembered.

Gray said his father never complained.

"He sat and listened to the TV and the sounds of me and my sister playing. He just wanted to be surrounded by his family," he said.

Shielding son from news

On April 4, 1987, James Gray Jr. died of a heart attack at the age of 48. Gray was with him on a Boy Scout camping trip.

"My troop was clearing land for a new camp to service the Tidewater Council Scouting Program that was set to open that summer," he said.

His father had just finished cutting down a tree. Gray remembers the sound of a fellow Scout yelling to him. The last time Gray saw his father, he was on the ground, stricken in convulsions, the chain saw still running a few feet from his head.

He can still hear the sound.

Gray walked to the bed of his father's 1978 F-150 Ranger, surrounded by his troop. His father died on the way to the hospital.

Upon returning home, Gray's mother shared with him a story only a handful of people knew.

His father had been diagnosed with leukemia when Gray was 10 years old.

"All those pills I had seen him taking, all the hospital visits, all the days of restricted activity were not just about the diabetes," he said.

"They were about the experimental treatments, the chemotherapy and the desire to live as long as possible to see a son know a father's love and impartation."

Gray's father never wanted him to know how sick he was, to worry needlessly or misunderstand the situation.

He wanted to experience the fullness of life with his son.

Gray's father sacrificed his well-being just to give his son love and adoration.

"He is truly one of my heroes," Gray said.

Keeping plan from others

Now, 19 years later, Gray is in the unique position to offer his assistance to other cancer patients fighting similar battles for life.

During the past 30 months, his hair has exceeded the minimum length for Locks of Love of 10 inches to 18, the longest he has ever had it.

Gray is taking a risk and making some sacrifices to let his hair out and live like never before.

"Against moderate family, community and personal resistance to the long hair, I've persevered and stuck with it," he said.

Until recently, no one has known Gray's intentions to donate the hair to the nationwide nonprofit organization that provides hairpieces to children who suffer from long-term medical hair loss because of chemotherapy, treatments and other medical conditions.

At Tivon Salon and Day Spa in Blacksburg, the sound of hair dryers humming and scissors snipping filled the immaculate interior of the shop.

Master stylist Amy Kinsley stood over James Gray, running expertly trained fingers through his long, salt-and-pepper hair.

Kinsley, a hairstylist for 17 years, has done 150 cuts for Locks of Love.

"It takes at least $3,000 to make one wig," Kinsley said as she pulled Gray's hair back into a ponytail, preparing it for the opening, decisive cut.

Even though Locks of Love provides donated hair for the prosthesis, it must pay for the manufacturing costs of each, anywhere from $3,000 to $6,000.

When donated hair arrives, the ponytails are sorted by length. Boxes of hair are shipped out to the manufacturer, which removes the short, unusable hair. Each hairpiece requires six to 10 ponytails.

'Genuine, kind people'

While Gray has a personal motivation for growing his hair, Kinsley said most donors just want to help others.

"They're just genuine, kind people looking to do something good for someone else," she said.

As Kinsley meticulously styled Gray's hair, she recounted the story of a girl who was growing her hair for donation.

The girl was often tempted to have it cut, as it became aggravating.

"She didn't have enough, it wasn't even 10 inches," said Kinsley.

When the girl would flirt with the idea of getting it cut, she would go online with her mother and look at the pictures of children on the Locks of Love Web site who have benefited from hair prosthesis.

"I just thought that was so sweet and so thoughtful," said Kinsley.

After his hair was shampooed and styled, Gray looked in the mirror with a sense of satisfaction -- his ponytail resting on the counter in front of him.

"I'll grow it back out, but not immediately," he said as he ran his fingers through what was left of his "mane" of hair, as if expecting the ponytail to still attached.

"Locks of Love has allowed me to give something meaningful to assist another person's battle for life, as well as bring more closure to battles that I've faced," Gray said.

For more information on Locks of Love, to donate hair or request a hairpiece, visit www.locksoflove.org.