Senior Alta Weisbrod said she adores her Love Your Melon hat that keeps both her and kids battling cancer warm.

According to Love Your Melon event director Alex Meysman, the company’s mission is to make sure every kid fighting cancer in the nation gets a hat.

“In April of 2015 we made a goal that every kid battling cancer in the country gets a hat as well as to raise $1 million for cancer research,” Meysman said.

Weisbrod said she loves the hats and their meaning.

“I got a hat because I love hats, and I love the company’s mission to give a hat to every child fighting cancer and their purpose to donate to kids who are enduring their own battle,” Weisbrod said. “I wear my hat all the time.”

Sophomore Philip Djerf said he sees many people wearing the hats since they became increasingly popular over social media.

“I hadn’t seen them until this fall and winter, but they’re all over Instagram and a lot of people have them at school,” he said.

According to Meysman, the company first started at the University of St. Thomas in 2012 and spread nationwide. She said college ambassadors from numerous universities plan events to meet and interact with kids undergoing cancer treatment.

“It started at St. Thomas as a class project for an entrepreneurial program to build a business. There were originally 400 hats made, 200 to sell and 200 to give to kids with cancer,” Meysman said. “It grew from there and has become bigger than we could have ever imagined.”

Djerf said he thinks Love Your Melon hats are such a popular item because of their message to support childhood cancer.

“I like that they support children who are fighting. I think that is what really separates them from other companies because they are giving back in such a positive and impactful way,” Djerf said.

Many universities nationwide have started their own Love Your Melon Crew to spread the company’s message, according to Meysman.

“The crew members are responsible for donating hats to kids battling cancer dressed as superheroes, to promote our organization and what we do, but to also tell their own personal stories in their community,” Meysman said. “We’re a national organization but we help kids locally.”

Weisbrod said she plans to join the Love Your Melon Crew in college.

“I signed up to be a part of the Love Your Melon Crew next year at Iowa State University, and I’m really excited,” Weisbrod said. “It’s great to know that I’ll be helping those who are in need.”

According to Meysman, the company is in high demand to restock hats, specifically beanies and other apparel.

“We sell out in less than an hour or so usually every time we restock and our beanies are our most popular item and since they are all handmade it is hard to meet the demand,” Meysman said.

Students can support the company by buying apparel and telling their friends about it, as well as joining a Love Your Melon Crew in culture.

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