A 12-year-old boy growing his hair has been attacked by strangers in the street for his 'man bun', his terrified mum has said.
Selfless Ban Sarak, 12, has spent the past three years growing his locks with the hopes of donating them to the Little Princess Trust - a charity proving human hair to make wigs for youngsters going through chemo.
But his inspiring act has only prompted others to harass - and in some cases - physically attack him.
Ben, from Manchester, has been repeatedly bullied for the hairstyle which he often wears up in a bun out of his face, suffering verbal assaults and, on one occasion, was beaten by a stranger.
Mum Natasha spoke of her heartbreak at people's cruelty as Ben now "can't wait" to lop off his locks.
“It’s heartbreaking for me,” the mum-of-two told the Manchester Evening News.
“As a mum, I was devastated. Everyone knows what a sweet boy Ben is.
“He’s learned to laugh when he’s called a girl and walk away. He’s kept at it, but he can’t wait to get it cut so it’s been a challenge.”
Ben was inspired to grow out his hair during the first lockdown in early 2020, aiming to look after it and keep it in a good condition so that he'd eventually be able to give it away.
His noble act has been supported by his school, which is also fundraising for charity The Fed, providing social care for Greater Manchester's Jewish community.
Ben chose the cause after his great grandfather Gerry was looked after at the city's Heathlands Village Jewish care home for three years.
Natasha, 37, is a community fundraiser herself and told of her horror the first time Ben was attacked over his long hair.
“He’s always been called names,” she added. “He’s got a lovely face; he’s pretty so he always gets called a girl, whether people are being mean or not.
"We will go into a café and he will get called madam. He’ll say, ‘I’m a boy!’
“The first time he was attacked was when he was walking home from school and three people caught him and were pulling on his hair, calling him a girl and pushing him around.
“Then in St Mary’s Park in Prestwich a kid started following him around with a rock saying, ‘Are you a girl?’ and punched him in the face.
“He’s had a couple of incidents, but you know what, he’s grown a really thick skin about it. It’s just so heartbreaking.
“It makes me really proud because at any moment he could have asked me to book him in at the hairdresser to get it cut off, but he never did. He kept on going. I have to be strong for him in front of him and tell him he’s better than [the bullying] and that it’s okay.”
With just over a month to go until Ben is booked in to have his mane cut off, the youngster has so far raised £1,135 of his £1,500 target on his fundraising page.
“I have been growing my hair for three years now," he wrote on his page.
"here have been times I have just wanted to get it cut but I kept going because I know how important this will be and I’m so proud that I made it this far.
“I want to raise money for The Fed because my great grandpa Gerry was looked after at Heathlands Village for three years. The staff were amazing and friendly, and we knew he was being looked after so well.
"I had a really close and special bond with my grandpa, so I am doing this in his honour and memory.”
