Headbands of Hope, an organization started by University student Jessica Ekstrom , is giving children who are fighting cancer a new sense of confidence through fashionable headbands.
For every headband purchased on headbandsofhope.org , one headband is given to a girl with cancer. A portion of profits are also donated to the St. Baldrick’s foundation, a volunteer-driven charity committed to funding research to find cures for childhood cancers and gives continuous support to survivors.
Headbands of Hope’s mission is “to fund research for childhood cancer and spread hope in all girls, one headband at a time,” according to the website.
“Many girls fighting childhood cancer lose their hair during their rigorous chemotherapy treatments. Headbands are the perfect way for these girls to keep their feminine identity and have a constant reminder that they’re not alone,” Ekstrom said.
Ekstrom , founder and president of Headbands of Hope, found her motivation to start the business during an internship. In 2011, her summer internship at Make a Wish Foundation of Central and Western North Carolina inspired Headbands of Hope, through her interaction with children who were experiencing hair loss from cancer treatments.
“One day, I was pulling my hair back in a ponytail and thought about the hundreds of girls I encountered that lose their hair to cancer. I saw how much losing their hair had an impact on their self-esteem and confidence level,” Ekstrom said.
Ekstrom said she wanted to give the girls something to boost their spirits and make them smile when they looked in the mirror.
“Being a young girl presents many struggles with self-esteem already and losing their hair as a result of a life-threatening illness is traumatic. Not only do they have to face the risk of losing their lives, they feel that they lose a part of their feminine identity. Wigs can be uncomfortable and unappealing, especially to younger girls. So headbands are the great way to spread hope in all girls and fight in the battle against childhood cancer,” Ekstrom said.
As part of Headbands of Hope, The Hope Club was created for girls who receive the headbands that are purchased.
“Since starting Headbands of Hope, the response has been tremendous. Almost everyone knows someone who has been touched by cancer, so Headbands of Hope hits home for a lot of people, men and women, children and adults,” Ekstrom said.
Headbands of Hope provides a movement to spread hope in all girls and fight in the battle against childhood cancer, one headband at a time.
“I wish Headbands of Hope had existed when I was going through my treatments, because it was hard to get through school without hair. To be a part of this cause is an indescribable feeling. It hits home and it is so good to give back any way I can. The amount of empathy I feel toward these children who are receiving the headbands is more than I can put into words,” Allison Moore, freshman in elementary education, said.
Visit headbandsofhope.org for more information about contributing to fighting childhood cancer or to purchase a headband.
“This is an amazing way to help little girls during a time that’s really difficult for them. I had females of my family who experienced cancer, so I was able to see how treatments impacted them, causing them to lose their hair,” Maddy Anderson, sophomore in business management, said.
