Last year, school had started once again as usual, but for the first time in the PE class that I was teaching, I had a cute little girl who was bald headed. Ellie started kindergarten as a brave, beautiful girl without hair. She was on chemotherapy, battling acute lymphoblastic leukemia. She loved wearing hats. When I saw how much she liked hats, I decided to add a few more crazy hats to her collection for Christmas. After sharing my plan with friends , family and neighbors, I found that they wanted to provide hats too. Hats started rolling in, and soon I had gathered more hats than even Ellie could wear. Realizing that many children facing the trials of childhood cancer are treated at Inova Fairfax Hospital, I launched a campaign to collect enough hats for all of the children being treated for cancer at the hospital. Over 140 hats were delivered to an annual Christmas party, where they were handed out to all kids in attendance. Upon leaving the party , Ellie said to her mom, “I think they like my hats!” Seeing the joy the hats brought to Ellie and others was the motivation I needed to start our Ellie’s Hats organization.

Ellie’s father shared his thoughts, “I know it’s easy to look at all this and ask, what is the big deal with giving hats? Of course, our daughter’s hat collection is not going to cure her cancer. But that’s really not the point. It’s an example of something that has helped make this season in which she is fighting cancer less hard for her. Ellie’s crazy hats have allowed her to feel more like a normal kid when she is experiencing things that are not normal at all, that are thankfully not what most kids will have to experience in their childhoods. These hats mean something to her. And based on what I saw at a Christmas party at the hospital when donated hats were given to all the kids in attendance and what I’ve heard from our clinic staff regarding the numerous hats distributed there, these hats mean something to many other kids as well. After Ellie beats her cancer, I am hopeful that hats will continue to make their way to the heads of other children fighting cancer in the years to come. I haven’t begun to consider how I will view this long cancer season when I look back years from now, but Ellie’s Hats would make a neat legacy.”

Some feedback that we have received

“I just want to say thank you so much for the hats! The patients and parents alike absolutely LOVE them!”

“The kids LOVE the hats…. The nurses think they are beautiful.”

“Dylan and Daniel’s hats came in today and they love them.”

“Thank you for your cause, it is making a difference”

“We received a special little box of hats in the mail today. Oh, were the kids excited! Thank you! “

“My boys love their new hats! I think Ellie’s Hats is an amazing program. We are honored to have received hats. Thanks so much!”

Since we started Ellie’s Hats we have seen classes and schools hold hat drives, teenagers raise money, workplaces donate, kids request people bring hats instead of gifts to their birthday parties, and lots of other creative ideas! All of these initiatives bring joy, but also spread awareness about childhood cancer and for that we are so grateful. We must be doing something right! I will never forget the little girl who started it all. Thank you, Ellie!

Author: Jay Coakley

Editor’s Note:  Here’s a great example of someone who does not have a child with cancer, but cares and wants to help.  What a great role model for others.  The childhood cancer community thanks you, Jay!  If you would like to help Jay with Ellie’s Hats, you can visit their website and their Facebook page.