One young Welsh boy, bullied and taunted that he is a girl because he has let his hair grow abnormally long, has the best reason in the world for undergoing the savage treatment of his peers: he wants to donate his hair to children who are cancer survivors who have lost their own hair.

Josh Scott-Hill, 11, was prompted to undergo his odyssey after he and his mother Samantha Scott visited the supermarket and met his mother’s friend, who had lost her hair due to stomach cancer. Josh blurted, “Where have your eyebrows gone?”

After the friend’s situation was explained to him, Josh decided to do something about it. He told his mother, “Mammy, I want to grow my hair for people less fortunate.” He let his hair grow for 18 months until it was 10 inches long. His mother told PEOPLE, “My friend contacted me after our catch up, as she was afraid that she had frightened Josh. But little did she know, she was his inspiration.”

As his hair passed his shoulders, Josh was teased and taunted, but he remained undaunted. His mother recalled one soccer game in which he was taunted, “After the game, Josh came to me and said that they were making fun of him but I told him to remember what he is doing it for. He just brushes it off now and if anything, it just made him more determined than ever.”

Josh said, “During the time I have been growing my hair I have been teased and mistaken for a girl so many times I’ve lost count. There was only one time I got really upset, but luckily my friends are very supportive as are my family.” He has raised roughly $2,635 through the donation website, JustGiving, which will be donated to Maggie’s, a U.K. cancer care organization.

Josh’s mother said, “I have learnt how determined and tenacious he is. Some of the adverse comments have really motivated him to carry on to succeed.”

Josh will have his hair cut on July 15; he will donate his hair to Little Princess Trust. He is determined to follow up by growing his hair long again, saying, “Helping people makes me feel happy, and I have realized that I want to carry on helping others less fortunate than me. I would like to say to anyone out there just to be yourselves and be your own unique character and you will be fine. Believe me, I know.”

He concluded, “I hope other children will realize they can do it too.”