There are plenty of nice people working in the news media today doing a variety of selfless community service activities.

A classic example of one who fits that bill is Rob Ladd, anchor/reporter at KMBZ radio, who spent more than a year growing his hair out so that he could donate it to help cancer patients.

Ladd, who had his locks cut this week, was asked to tell his story to Bottom Line.

“I stopped cutting my hair back in May 2011 with the intention of growing it out to donate it,” he says. “The inspiration came from a childhood friend of mine who began growing his hair out while his mother was undergoing chemotherapy to treat breast cancer (she is a survivor, thankfully, and he donated his hair). It was one of the most selfless and inspiring things I’d ever seen anyone do.

“I knew I had a couple more years left at UMKC (plan to graduate in Spring 2013), and I work in radio, so the circumstances of my life allowed me to take on their venture.”

Ladd says his bosses were supportive of his undertaking, but that didn’t mean he was above some good-natured ribbing.

“Luckily my bosses here at KMBZ (News Director Lisa Carter and Program Director Jack Landreth) were very supportive and never pressured me to get it cut,” he related. “Now, this is not to say I didn’t take my fair share of friendly criticism both on and off the air, including an on-air exchange in which (afternoon talk show host) Scott Parks told me that with the hair I looked quite feminine…which led to me beating him in arm wrestling (both arms) with Landreth as a sort of color analyst.”

“About a month ago it got to the length where I started thinking about donations, and a friend who is also a hair stylist turned me on to a nonprofit called Children with Hairloss. She raved about their work and after a little research I was sold on the organization. Children with Hairloss requires that you donate at least 8 inches: I donated two braids, one about 8 1/2 inches, the other about 9 1/2 inches. At full length, depending on where you were measuring from, my hair was between 10-13 inches long.”

What is particularly gratifying to Ladd is that he may have inspired at least one other person to Follow his example.

“What’s really cool is that I ran into a guy in promotions today who informed me that I’d inspired him to grow out his hair for donation as well. He’s well on his way. So hopefully people will just keep paying it forward,” he says, noting that he might do it again.

“I’d say there’s a good chance I will grow my hair out again. It’s such a good cause and if you’re able, I’d encourage anyone and everyone who has hair to donate it to someone in need.”