2 moms crochet princess wigs for girls fighting cancer
ALASKA (KTVU) - Two moms in Alaska decided to bring joy to children battling cancer with the Magic Yarn Project.
The non-profit creates princess wigs out of yarn and sends them to cancer centers around the country.
It all began when Holly Christensen found out one of her friend’s daughters was diagnosed with cancer at the tender age of 2.
Christensen, a cancer nurse, knew how sick the little girl would get. She knew she would lose her hair and her scalp would be too sensitive for a wig so she made her a Rapunzel yarn wig on a soft crocheted beanie and sent it to her.
“She loved it! It lit a little fire inside me,” said Christensen.
Christensen thought it would be a special, small project but it quickly grew.
“When I took to Facebook this September to request yarn donations to get my project started, my request went viral! I had people from all over the US and even in Scotland and Australia asking how they could help and where they could send money for us to buy supplies.”
Christensen along with Bree Hitchcock set up a GoFundMe page which has raised more than $6,000.
“We set up a local workshop and invited volunteers from the community to come make wigs for little girls with cancer, said Christensen.
The group has made 80 wigs to dates.
With such high demand, a crochet club at a women's prison in Utah has volunteered to help out.
“We have been inundated with requests from individuals around the world who would like these wigs for specific little girls fighting cancer. It has been absolutely touching to witness the little girls receive their wigs and see a little magic and sparkle come into their lives during such a hard time,” said Christensen.
The Magic Yarn Project is in the process of becoming a non-profit – but in the meantime, they need more funding to purchase supplies to make more wigs.
“As a cancer nurse I have learned that I can't save the world. I can't take the horrible disease away, but I can do something. I can bring some light into cancer patients' lives and help provide a magical escape during an otherwise dark and difficult time,” said Christensen.
Learn more about the Magic Yarn Project: