Love Your Melon provides cozy hats and warm hearts to pediatric patients

With a chill in the air, cozy hats and warm hearts are embracing pediatric patients at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield.

Sophomores from College of DuPage delivered the popular Love Your Melon hats to inpatient children receiving care.

"This is such a reward for us to come here and give these hats to pediatric patients," says student Rebecca Conrad, who got involved with Love Your Melon to make a difference. "My mom battled breast cancer, so I want to give back to others as much as I can and one day, hopefully go into the medical field."

The students are part of more than 900 college crews around the United States who volunteer with Love Your Melon to raise funds for pediatric cancer research and support children and their families who are battling cancer.

Patients like 3-year-old Averie Lazzara of South Elgin, Ill., who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and has been in and out of the hospital since May.

"This has been our home away from home," says Averie's mom, Stacy Lazzara. "We really appreciate special surprises and people who go the extra mile to make our experience less scary and more enjoyable. That way, Averie will have good memories when we go home."

"I couldn't agree more," adds Sarah Coulter, whose 2-year-old son, Levi, is also being treated at Central DuPage Hospital. "With cooler weather creeping in, I've actually been looking for a new hat for Levi. Now we have one that he'll keep forever. This hat speaks volumes for us because we love Levi's melon. It's nice to know he's cared for by more people than just myself."

To date, Love Your Melon has distributed nearly 150,000 hats to children battling cancer. Fifty percent of net profits from the sale of all Love Your Melon products supports nonprofits such as Make A Wish, St. Baldrick's Foundation and Ronald McDonald House Charities. Visit loveyourmelon.com.