Victoria Parente had wanted to get her long hair cut for some time but her father Tony didn’t want her to. Instead of cutting her losses, 12-year-old Victoria made a bet –if she got straight As, the choice was hers.

“She had her hair trimmed, but she always wanted to get it cut,” said her mother Dana.

In June, Victoria won the wager, finishing seventh grade at Ferri Middle School with high honors.

It wasn’t just a new hairstyle Victoria was looking for though, it was the chance to do something good. Now sporting a “bobbed” hairstyle courtesy of Tiffany Place Salon in Cranston, she donated her hair to “Locks of Love,” which provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children suffering from long-term medical hair loss.

"I did this for one special reason...to help a person who has cancer and has no hair,” Victoria said on Monday. “For me, I feel really sad to see a person having such a disease and in need of help. I did it to make someone happy and less embarrassed to have no hair. I hope it helps make someone smile."

Ferri’s Assistant Principal Dennis Morrell said he was proud of Victoria’s grades and generosity, and alerted the Sun Rise of the unusual bet. He’s not the only one who is impressed.

“She really pushed herself,” Dana said, noting that Tony was fighting a losing battle. “He was hoping in a way that she wouldn’t win the bet, but he knew she would.”

Victoria has also helped out at fundraisers for another local charity, “Annie’s Angels.”

For more information on Locks of Love, visit their Web site at www.locksoflove.org.