SOUTH LAKE TAHOE — After three years of growing his hair out, Nick Rodgers was done with it.

“I'm just sick of taking care of it,” Rodgers said.

So Wednesday he drove from his residence in Sacramento to his childhood home of South Lake Tahoe to chop off his long, blond hair for a cause. Rodgers, 22, said the idea to donate his hair to Locks of Love was — like his ponytail — “always in the back of my head.”

“It's one way I can help ‘em,” Rodgers said. “Little kids aren't supposed to be sick or sad.”

Locks of Love, a non-profit organization based in Florida, offers the wigs made from hair like Rodgers' to children who have lost their hair due to disease or other complications.

“It's considered cosmetic,” Rodgers said. “But what little six-year-old girl wants to go through cancer without (hair)?”

Jill Walthers, a stylist at Acqua Hair Design, has cut Rodgers' hair since he was a student at South Tahoe High School. When she used scissors to cut his ponytail off, Rodgers felt it immediately.

“It's nuts,” he said. “It feels a lot lighter, actually. Good, a lot lighter.”

Acqua donates hair to Locks of Love frequently, Walthers said.

“It's a great cause because it helps children in unfortunate situations,” she said.

Rodgers said he's had male and female friends who have donated their hair, and their experiences as well as encouragement from his uncle, who works with Shriner Hospital, gave him the idea to donate.

With the beard and shorter hair, Rodgers felt like he'd returned to his “old surfer look.” Rodgers said he had one other, more personal hope for his shorter hair, too.

“Hopefully I'll be able to find a better job,” he said.