Love Your Melon is an apparel brand run by college students, creating comfortable and stylish headwear that can show appreciation to your melon, while simultaneously supporting kids fighting cancer.

The brand was founded by two friends, Zach and Brian, at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. The two have pushed on since Oct. 22, 2012 with the goal to put a hat on the head of every child battling cancer. Since then, the organization has been on two nationwide tours from coast to coast, while spreading word of their mission through a network of college students called Love Your Melon Ambassadors, with more than 2500 students at over 225 schools around the country to date taking on the job.

So far, over 45,000 hats have been reserved to donate to children in hospitals fighting cancer, which is equal to the number of kids receiving treatment in the US. The hats are given to them in person by ambassadors dressed up in superhero costumes. The organization has also partnered with the Pinky Swear Foundation to improve immediate support for the kids and with CureSearch for Children’s Cancer to fund their research in eradicating childhood cancer completely. After reaching their goal of 45,000, the organization has replaced their first model of buy one, give one with the intention to fund 50% to CureSearch.

The organization also gives cancer patients the chance to go on “therapeutic adventures,” which consists of rides in boats, planes, helicopters, or whatever the person is able to come up with. One patient of theirs, Zach Sobiech, was asked what he wanted to do before he died. With only a few weeks to live, he answered that he wanted to go up into the clouds, so he went on a ride in a helicopter.

“You don’t have to find out you’re dying to start living,” said Zach Sobiech (1995-2013).

I personally discovered Love Your Melon through my cousin who had bought hats for her family, intriguing my own as well. Wearing one myself, I can attest that they are incredibly comfortable, and am proud to have it atop my head at the same time.

If you’re interested in such an organization, visit LoveYourMelon.com for more info, and buy a hat if you’re inclined. Let’s spread the word of Love Your Melon so that we can play a hand in decimating childhood cancer forever.