My name is Holly Christensen. I have often witnessed the scary and painful world of cancer as an oncology nurse, friend, and family member. I’ve always held my cancer patients very close to my heart.
In 2014, upon learning that a friend’s daughter had been diagnosed with cancer and would likely be in the hospital for a while, I began to think of what I could do to help bring some magic and light to this little girl’s life during the trying days that I knew were ahead for her.
Knowing how difficult it would be for her to lose her beautiful blonde curls, I made her a Rapunzel yarn wig and sent it in the mail.
She was overcome with joy.
My friend remarked at how many other little girls in that hospital would love to have such a special gift, as it had had such an impact on her daughter’s demeanor and happiness during her treatments.
I began to organize what I thought would be a small project creating a few dozen wigs to send to little cancer patients, and I put up a request on Facebook for yarn donations.
Within hours, I was flooded with responses from around the world—mothers who wanted these wigs for their little girls who have cancer, complete strangers who wanted to help by donating money to buy yarn, professionals reaching out and requesting wigs for their hospitals, and more.
What started as a small project has snowballed into something much bigger than I ever expected!
Thanks to the popularity of these wigs, The Magic Yarn Project was born, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. We are the original and the largest organization making yarn wigs for children with medical hair loss.
Our entire Magic Yarn team has been overwhelmed with the donations and desire to help that has come from all over the world.
Since our humble beginnings in 2015, the spirit of service has touched the hearts of tens of thousands. We estimate that Magic Yarn has spurred over 300,000 hours of volunteering over the last decade.
We have received thousands of photos and stories from grateful parents, telling us how much it meant to their child to feel comfortable and playful again.
Children rest in bed with their wigs when they are too sick to play; they wear them for courage during painful procedures; they show them off when they triumphantly ring the bell signaling their graduation from chemotherapy.
Some grieving parents have even told us that the child they lost was buried wearing their Magic Yarn wig.
Our hearts are shattered and healed over and over again when we hear how much it means to suffering families to know that strangers cared enough about their child to send them a handmade gift.
The knowledge that they are not alone in the worst ordeal of their lives is a priceless gift.