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QUINCY, ILL. -- Sydnie Hoyt of Quincy is in her waning days of being a nine year old.

In one week she hits the big double digits.

To celebrate, she's going for a whole new look by chopping off a double digit length of hair.

And for this birthday, she's giving at least one gift before she receives any.

This is no typical haircut for Sydnie Hoyt. By the time this story is over, she'll have a whole new look and a whole new look on life.

Sydnie Hoyt says, "I'm donating it to Locks of Love."

That organization takes at least ten inches of hair from donors and then turn that hair into wigs for cancer patients, many of whom are children.

Hoyt says, "It's not a big deal for me that I'm losing my hair, but I don't think I'm going to miss it as much as some people would miss their hair."

Hoyt has seen what cancer can do because she has a kid in her neighborhood who is a cancer survivor who had lost his hair.

Hoyt says, "I've been growing my hair out for awhile and I've been wanting to cut it because one, it's a mess sometimes and I don't know. I wanted to donate it, I guess."

And now here's the big reveal...ten inches shorter, and who knows how much lighter. What advice does Sydnie have for anyone else thinking about donating their hair?

Hoyt says, "It's just like a regular hair cut, but you lose...you get a lot more cut off than you think."

Sydnie says it may not be for everyone, but if you are willing, she knows there are people out there who would love to have your head of hair.

As for the donation, all Sydnie's mom has to do is put the hair in a bag and mail it to the Locks of Love organization.