Headbands of Hope

Cancer is a horrible disease that hits home for everyone in one way or another. Everyone somehow and some way has been affected by cancer. I actively participate on the Relay for Life committee at my college. I’m always looking to help in any way I can, either fundraising for an event or attending Relay. When I was searching Twitter one day, I stumbled upon Headbands of Hope.

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H eadbands of Hope was started by Jessica Ekstrom, a recent NC State grad who learned that many young girls with cancer love to wear headbands to keep their sense of femininity after hair loss. Like Toms shoes, for every headband that you purchase, one is donated to a young girl with cancer. In addition to a young girl receiving these super cute headbands, $1 is donated to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation to help fund childhood cancer research. This amazing foundation has adorable headbands for you to select your favorites, make a difference and put a smile on a girl’s face.

Recently, I had the amazing opportunity to talk to Jessica myself and ask her a couple of questions:

SLM: How did you think of the idea of creating Headbands of Hope?

JE: Right before my 20th birthday in the summer of 2011, I did an internship at the Make a Wish Foundation of Central and Western North Carolina.

Everyday, I got to wake up and grant the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses. I took day trips to visit the wish kids at their houses and bring them their favorite toys. We received hundreds of letters from wish children that said we changed their lives; little did they know, they were changing mine.One day, I was pulling my hair back in a ponytail and thought about the hundreds of girls I encountered that lose their hair to cancer. I saw how much losing their hair had an impact on their self-esteem and confidence level.I thought about the thousands of girls around the world losing their hair to chemotherapy. Being a young girl presents many struggles with self-esteem already and losing their hair as a result of a life-threatening illness is traumatic. Not only do they have to face the risk of losing their lives, they feel that they lose a part of their feminine identity. Therefore I started Headbands of Hope! For every headband purchased, one is given to a girl with cancer and $1 is donated to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation to fund life-saving childhood cancer research.

SLM: What’s been the most rewarding thing since creating Headbands of Hope?

JE: Too many moments to count! When I go into the hospitals, it’s a moment I can’t describe. I get to see all my hard work pay off. Most people want to see their hard work transfer in the form of a paycheck, but the real reward is seeing your efforts change a life.

SLM: I read that you actually started Headbands of Hope when you were still in college. Was it hard to juggle a start-up company and college classes at the same time?

JE: Of course it can be challenging to start a company in college. You might have to make some sacrifices like missing a football game when you have a business commitment or you have to work when your friends are going out on a Thursday night. However, when you’re in college you have so many resources right at your fingertips. Headbands of Hope wouldn’t be what it is today if I didn’t have the support of a university along the way.

When I was first starting out and communicating with business and charities for partnerships, I hid the fact that I was in college. I thought the fact that I couldn’t even drink legally yet would make me sound like I wasn’t credible. However, I learned that I needed to embrace my age and use it to my advantage. I switched my mentality to, “Yes, I’m the CEO and I still have to do my homework before my Spanish class tomorrow.” I learned that this unique aspect of myself was often an attraction. It was still Headbands of Hope, but it turned into Headbands of Hope: Started by a college student.

SLM: Where do you draw inspiration from for new designs for headbands?

JE: I’ve been known to walk up to strangers and ask if I can take a picture of their headband! I’m that girl. I just look around at the gym, at the supermarket, wherever I am. For example, I saw chevron was a really popular pattern this spring, so we started a chevron collection.

SLM: Is there a mantra or favorite quote that you live by?

JE: One of my favorite quotes is by Richard Branson, “The people who think they’re crazy enough to change the world are the ones that do.”

SLM: When you’re not busy spreading hope for young girls with Headbands of Hope, what do you do in your spare time?

JE: Believe it or not, I’m a regular 22-year-old girl! I love watching sports (especially football), I’m a group fitness instructor, my friends and family are my world, and I love being involved in my community.

SLM: Have you had any experiences that were life-changing?

JE: Since I launched Headbands of Hope, I’ve been asked to come speak and share my story to students around the nation. I was picked up as a public speaker for CAMPUSPEAK and that was a huge turning point for me. I knew I was making a difference going to the hospitals, but I had no idea my story alone was changing lives as well. I love that I’m living proof that you’re never too young to start something you believe in.

SLM: What’s one trait that you think young women must possess to achieve success?

JE: I think this question goes back to my favorite quote above. You have to have a little “crazy” in you. If you spend your whole life doing things that feel natural, you’ll never be able to discover your potential. You should spend your whole life doing things that make you feel uncomfortable. It might be something as crazy as backpacking through the woods, or it might be something as simple as becoming a mentor at your local YMCA. Whatever it is, you have to dig for your inner “crazy” and go for it. Who knows, you might be asked to contribute for Sweet Lemon Magazine one day!

Headbands for Hope also gives the opportunity to become a campus representative and have the chance to give headbands to your local hospital to children with cancer. Be sure to check out this amazing foundation and help make a difference today! Together, we will defeat cancer one day.