For a year, for no particular reason, Supriya Jassal didn't have her hair cut.

By the time the 11-year-old Creekside Elementary student approached her mother Manjeet suggesting a trim – "short" – her dark locks had reached her waist.

Normally, it meant a regular trip to the hair salon, but her mother was formulating other plans.

A few years ago, Manjeet had spent many idle hours walking the halls of the BC Cancer Agency's Fraser Valley Centre, reading posters, talking to the staff and learning about the programs offered there.

Her husband was being treated for cancer that would ultimately be fatal.

Three years ago, Harjinder Jassal, 39, father of then eight-year-old Supriya and her brother Daven, then 5, died of the disease.

This year, on Canada Day, in memory of her father, Supriya donated 10 inches of her hair for the BC Cancer Agency's wig program.

The wig and head covering station at the Fraser Valley Centre, which is located at Surrey Memorial Hospital (another station is located at the Abbotsford Cancer Centre), provides wigs and head coverings for cancer patients who have lost hair while undergoing chemotherapy.

Offered are wigs made of human hair, synthetics and blends. They come by donation from the public, wig manufacturers and even production companies who don’t need the wigs anymore.

The wigs are provided at no cost to patients, who might otherwise have to seek help to pay for them.

"Buying a wig is incredibly expensive," says Ellen Suarez, regional coordinator of Volunteer Services at the Fraser Valley Centre. "If you wanted a human hair wig, it’s a minimum of $500."

Some can be up to $1,000.

The wigs are professionally cleaned in Vancouver before being distributed to clients.

The wig and head covering station is supported by more than 100 volunteers at the BC Cancer Agency.

Cancer patients who receive wigs can also make use of the Look Good Feel Better program, which helps women learn about cosmetics, wigs and head coverings during treatment. Two-hour workshops take place every second Monday.

Supriya's hair donation was particularly appreciated at the Fraser Valley Cancer Centre since there's a shortage of wigs for South Asian women, and few donors.

Manjeet says her daughter's donation was an easy choice to make, given the memories of her father – his generous nature, the long walks after supper, the family trips to Edmonton and Quesnel.

As for her daughter’s fast-growing hair: "This is nature’s gift."

Supriya says she may donate more hair for the wig program in about a year.

"My dad had cancer," she says. "I know it's for a good cause."

For more information about the wig and head covering station or about volunteering, donating wigs, or donating cash for wig purchases, visit www.bccancer.bc.ca. To learn about the Look Good Feel Better program, call 604-877-6092.