Despite being bullied for his long locks, a 10-year-old Georgia boy was determined to grow his hair out for a friend hundreds of miles away who was suffering from a hair-loss condition. Tyler Boone, who met 12-year-old Gabby Ruiz years ago but has kept in touch, reached his final goal of 12 inches last week, Fox 61 reported.
Ruiz was diagnosed with alopecia-areata and has gone through multiple unsuccessful treatments to try to help regrow her hair. Alopecia-areata is a common autoimmune skin disease that affects people of all ages and ethnicities. According to the National Alopecia-Areata Foundation, as many as 6.8 million people in the United States are diagnosed with the condition.
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After Ruiz began losing her hair, Boone told his mother he wanted to grow his out so his friend could be outfitted with a wig.
“I just want to make her happy,” Boone told Fox 61.
The two were reunited at a Florida JCPenny last week at a photoshoot before Boone went for his haircut. His locks were donated to Children with Hair Loss, which will make a wig for Ruiz.