College Students' Cancer Charity Tour Comes To Chicago
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Two college students' class project has turned into a non-profit that aims to brighten the lives of young cancer patients, and – when possible – to put other college students in the patients' shoes.
WBBM Newsradio's Mike Krauser reports getting DePaul University students to shave their heads proved a bit difficult for Brian Keller and Zach Quinn, two college students from Minnesota.
They offered winter hats to those who agreed to go bald for "Love Your Melon," a college project for an entrepreneurship class that turned into a charity for cancer patients.
"We didn't want to do something that didn't have a cause behind it, because it felt shallow to us," Quinn said.
College Students Start Cancer Charity As Class Project
Quinn and Keller have been touring the country on a bus, selling knit hats – and giving the hats away at children's hospitals. They also raise money for the Children's Cancer Research Fund.
For every hat their charity sells, they donate a one to a child going through cancer treatment.
"Our hats help really restore confidence," Keller said.
He and Quinn plan to give away more than 100 hats on Wednesday at Lurie Children's Hospital, where they'll be wearing superhero costumes – Superman and Captain America – to make it an experience for the children they visit.
When they visit kids in the hospital, Keller said there are a lot of stories like what happened Monday.
"Zach walked up as Captain America, and this kid's eyes just light up, and he ran, and … he went into his backpack, and he pulled out a Captain America action figure. It's a huge bonding moment," Keller said.
You can buy a "Love Your Melon" knit cap by clicking here.
Quinn and Keller expect to hand out more than 5,000 knit hats at children's hospitals across the country as they continue a bus tour during a month-long break from school.
