For as long as she could remember, Joelle Hoffmann had long hair — the kind of hair that people noticed, flowing down her back nearly reaching her waist. It was something friends recognized instantly, something that had simply become part of who she was.
But this spring, sitting in the middle of the Hamburg High School gymnasium surrounded by classmates, Joelle made the decision to let it go. As the crowd cheered and the scissors swooshed through strand after strand, she could feel the weight slowly lifting. By the time the scissors stopped, 15 inches of hair were gone.
But for Joelle this was much more than just a haircut. She was doing it for her mom.
A Childhood Shaped by Cancer
When Joelle was just three years old, her mother was diagnosed with lung cancer. For the next nine years, she watched her go through treatments, many of them at Roswell Park. But despite the long hospital visits and difficult procedures, what Joelle remembers most isn’t the illness — it’s the time they spent together.
Her mom stayed home to raise her and was deeply involved in every part of Joelle’s childhood. And even during the hardest moments, Joelle’s mom was someone who never stopped showing up for the people she loved.
“Even when she did go through harder patches, I still remember her as being positive and just being a bright part of my life,” said Joelle. “We spent so much time together because she was a stay-at-home mom and loved being able to do that. And I loved having her be able to do that.”
She taught her kids to be strong, even when all you may want to do is give up. Her unwavering faith became something the whole family leaned on during the hardest moments.
“She was a very faithful woman, God-fearing woman, and she never gave up hope. She always persevered and had a good outlook,” said Joelle.
At the age of 12, Joelle’s mom passed away, but her impact never left.
The Legacy Joelle Carried Forward
It was her mom who originally encouraged Joelle to grow her hair long so she could one day donate it. “That didn’t go to plan,” Joelle laughed. “I got attached to it and never wanted to cut it.”
That was until a friend asked if she would consider participating in Bald for Bucks. At first, she was hesitant, but she had decided she was going to do it within that very class period.
“I think that was definitely part of what pushed me to do it,” Joelle explained. “I was nervous to cut my hair, but the fact that [my mom] wanted me to do it — to donate my hair — in the first place made me feel like it was a good decision and even more connected to the cause.”
So, during the school assembly, surrounded by classmates and friends, Joelle watched as 15 inches of her hair were cut off.
Giving Back in a Bigger Way
But beyond donating her hair, Joelle also raised more than $1,200 for Roswell Park, helping to support other families who may be in the same shoes she once was. While her mother’s story inspired her decision for the big chop, Joelle also wanted to give back to a cause that has touched so many lives beyond her own family.
“It really impacts everyone who knows a person going through treatment,” she said. “I wanted to go Bald for Bucks in general because it’s not just her I’ve known who’s gone through cancer treatment. I think it’s important to have hope.”
Bald for Bucks: A Full-Circle Moment
Now, as Joelle prepares to graduate as valedictorian and move on to the next chapter of her life, she looks back at Bald for Bucks as a full-circle moment — one rooted in love, loss and the kind of strength that doesn’t fade.
Because for Joelle, this wasn’t just about letting go of her hair. It was about holding onto her mom.