Cancer is a terrible illness that affects so many people worldwide, whether it's the person who has been diagnosed or the individuals who care about them. Cancer sucks, plain and simple. I was 10 years old when my grandma passed away due to breast cancer, ever since then I have had a burning desire to help in any way that I can in the fight against cancer. Then in September of 2015, my best friend was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. This helped fuel my activist fire and made me want to help the cause even more! Then one day as I'm scrolling through Instagram I come across a picture of Sophia Bush in an adorable beanie. As I read the caption I realize this beanie was sold by an organization, Love Your Melon, who's main purpose is to help in the fight against pediatric cancer! I immediately went to their website to check everything out and realized they have an ambassador program set up so colleges all over the country can get involved! I immediately signed up and am now a very proud Crew Captain of the Winthrop University Campus Crew. Now here are some of the many reasons why Love Your Melon is an amazing organization!

1. They donate beanies to children in America who are battling cancer.

Love Your Melon sells beanies online and every time a beanie is purchased, one is donated to a child in America who is battling cancer. What's better than buying yourself a cute new hat and knowing that your purchase provided a cute hat to a child with a cancer as well? The answer is nothing; nothing is better than that.

2. Half of the proceeds from each product sold are donated to two other wonderful organizations.

Whether you buy a beanie, a cap, or a shirt half of the proceeds from the products purchased are donated! The donations are split between CureSearch, an organization striving to find cures to pediatric cancers, and the Pinky Swear Foundation, an organization providing non-medical financial needs support and quality of life programs to the families of these children.

.

3. Every hat donation is a superhero experience.

Whether it's a house donation, Ronald McDonald House donation, or a hospital donation LYM makes every donation a superhero experience. The crew members making the donations dress as superheroes to help take the children's minds off of their daily struggle and bring them some fun and relief!

4. It's nationwide.

This is a nationwide impact! This wonderful organization doesn't only affect people in a certain area, but rather it reaches children in every region across the nation!

5. It's an organization run by college students.

Love Your Melon is an organization run by college students! Each crew involved is based on a college campus through an ambassador program. This is a great way for young adults, who generally do not make enough money to make a huge impact on causes like this, to get heavily involved in something bigger than themselves and make a difference in the world!

6. You don't have to be in a Campus Crew to make an impact.

If you're not in college or you are not a part of your university's Crew don't be discouraged because you can still make a difference! Simply by making a purchase on the LYM site you are helping in the fight against pediatric cancer! In addition to reasons #1 and #2, by making a purchase you are also helping your local Campus Crew! By selecting a crew at checkout they are able to be one step closer to going out into YOUR community and bringing the Love Your Melon experience to the children in your area who need it most!

7. They provide Superhero Adventures to children across the country!

Whether it's a concert, a festival, a helicopter ride or even a hot air balloon ride Love Your Melon provides children across the country with an opportunity to do something they have always dreamed of doing through Superhero Adventures!

8. Everyone involved is dedicated.

From crew members all the way up to the two guys who started it all, dedication is the key to how Love Your Melon has become the phenomenon it is today!

9. It started as a simple class project and become SO much more!

Zach and Brian founded Love Your Melon in an entrepreneur class as sophomores at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota! They went on to hold two nationwide tours spreading the message of Love Your Melon from coast-to-coast. To date, Love Your Melon is on more than 575 college campuses with over 9,000 students involved!

10. They make it easy for people just like YOU to get involved and make a difference!

Whether you join your school's crew, start a crew on your campus, make a purchase, or just spread the word you're involved and helping make a difference!

Love Your Melon does amazing things for children across the country and I am so glad to be a part of it. I strive to help spread the word as much as I can, and now I urge you all to do the same. If this company's mission speaks to you like it has spoken to me do not hesitate to get involved! If you have any questions check out loveyourmelon.com. Remember, John F. Kennedy said it best: "One person can make a difference, and everyone should try."