By Brianna Cravens, Copy Editor
I find it extremely neat that, as humans, each individual has something that they are passionate about — something that sets their soul on fire. For me, this is being a part of the fight against pediatric cancer.
The fall of my freshmen year at Hardin-Simmons University, a Love Your Melon campus crew was established at HSU. Love Your Melon is an apparel brand whose mission is to put a beanie on every child’s head battling cancer, while supporting the fight against pediatric cancer. The campus crew program is made up of college students, spread across college campuses throughout America, who are determined to improve the lives of children battling cancer.
The purpose of campus crews is to raise awareness about pediatric cancer, support Love Your Melon’s nonprofit partners and to positively impact the children and their families who are affected by cancer.
I love being a part of Love Your Melon because there are several different ways that our crew gets to share with our campus and community. The HSU Love Your Melon Campus Crew hosts monthly table events to educate our community about pediatric cancer, provides students with opportunities to write uplifting notes to children battling cancer, and allows others to get involved with our nonprofit partners, such as DKMS and Ronald McDonald House. Participating in each one of these events has allowed me to exercise my passion for educating others on the reality that is childhood cancer.
A couple of weeks ago, a few of our crew members had the incredible opportunity to visit Cook Children’s Medical Hospital in Fort Worth. We got to deliver beanies to pediatric patients who were currently receiving treatment and to those who were staying on the oncology floor. Several patients’ families were so excited to see our crew and knew that we were there to deliver beanies. The joy that we were able to bring by simply donating a beanie and a card was indescribable and was a moment that set my soul on fire to want to impact more families.
Without being introduced to this organization, I may not have known the depth of my passion for the fight against pediatric cancer or have been able to be a part of an organization that works directly with the families affected. College is the time to step out of your comfort zone and see what your interests are. If you don’t, you may just miss the opportunity to pursue your passions.