More than 390 volunteers made yarn wigs for children battling with cancer and other medical hair loss conditions, as part of the Magic Yarn Project event held Oct. 20-21 in Saratoga.
The yarn wigs are not only comfortable on tender bald heads, but allow these courageous young ones to channel their favorite Disney character or superhero, like Elsa, Rapunzel, Moana, Ariel, Belle or Captain America.
Wig makers were trained by Magic Yarn staff who traveled from Southern California.
Co-founder Holly Christensen, a mother of three and a cancer nurse, flew in
from Alaska to attend the “Just Serve” event sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The goal was to make 200 wigs at four two-hour sessions on Friday and Saturday.
The last session was designated for youth and youth groups.
A wig is made by a team of two and then packaged along with their Polaroid picture, a signed card, and a matching ribbon.
Yarn was donated from Bay Area groups, cut into lengths, and packaged. Envelopes were decorated, ribbon cut, and supplies were gathered—and the goal was surpassed, with 230 wigs completed.
A Modesto family shared their heart-warming story of their son, Jaden, who was diagnosed with AML cancer at 12 years of age. He spent 224 days in the hospital, received 219 doses of chemo, and 166 blood transfusions. It was hard for Jaden to lose his hair.
Christensen was friends with Jaden’s dad in high school, and connected with the family. She sent Jaden a Captain America beanie which he proudly wore to cover his bald head. He still wears it today.
“As a cancer nurse, I have learned that I can’t save the world,” Christensen said. “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.”
Approximately 15,000 kids are diagnosed with cancer each year in the USA alone.
The Magic Yarn Project has made and distributed more than 50,000 wigs during the past eight years to 52 countries.
The wigs made this past weekend will be donated to local hospitals and cancer clinics. Magic Yarn is 100% volunteer-run and 100% donation-funded.
