I love when I hear stories that give back and this story is one that I am so proud to share with you. Jess Ekstrom, founder of the organization, Headbands of Hope took on an internship at 20 years old at the amazing charity, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central and Western North Carolina. During her internship, Jess saw that the girls loved wearing headbands after losing their hair to chemotherapy.
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.
With that, she started Headbands of Hope! For every headband purchased {made by volunteers}, one is given to a girl with cancer and $1 is donated to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation to fund life-saving childhood cancer research. Isn’t that amazing! There is nothing better than seeing the smiles on little one’s faces when they feel special when they feel beautiful, and when they know they are loved.
Since her start in 2012, Jess has had the opportunity to distribute headbands to girls in the hospitals across the nation. However, the boys are not excluded! Jess even has Headwear for Hope for the boys and the concept is identical, for every one piece of headwear, one is provided to a boy with cancer and$1 is donated to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation to fund life-saving childhood cancer research.
What an amazing source of inspiration Jess and her volunteers are! Next time you are looking for a headband or a piece of headwear, please, I urge you to take a look at HeadbandsOfHope.org and HeadwearOfHope.org and see how you can help out this very urgent and important cause. All it takes is knowing and we hope that with this post, you now are informed on how you can help by making one small purchase for yourself or someone you love, and knowing that, you will help raise awareness {with the $1.00 donation to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation to fund life-saving childhood cancer research} for this cause and put a smile on a younger persons face.
Thank you Jess for all you do! We wish you and your volunteers many years of giving & success!
