On Wednesday, Oct. 5, the Middle College High School's Honor Society participated in a yearly international campaign that raises awareness of childhood cancer.

Our students set a table up at Durham Technical Community College's Fall Festival to raise money for an organization called Hats off for Cancer. (Middle College High School is located on Durham Technical Community College's Campus).

We didn't know how successful our campaign would turn out to be, but we all knew our efforts wouldn't be a waste of our timeTo advertise and promote the event, the students made signs and hung them around DTCC's campus a couple weeks before the official Hats off for Cancer Week, which was Oct. 3-7. At the festival, as each person donated money or gave us a new hat, the students offered fresh baked .

The students collected more than 40 new hats and raised $137.55.

The money will go towards the basic necessities that is takes to run the Ronald McDonald House in Durham. The students also donated more than 30 toothbrushes, candy, food, drinks and other nonperishable food items.

Hats Off For Cancer has donated more than 950,000 brand new hats to hospitals, camps, and individuals worldwide since 1996. Inspired by the loss of her beloved grandfather and his long battle with cancer, Tara Lawrence volunteered at events for cancer patients and met kids with cancer who had lost their hair due to chemo and radiation treatments.

They told her how much they hated losing their hair and liked wearing hats. Deciding to turn a negative into a positive, Tara began Hats Off For Cancer at age 14 in her small town in New Jersey. With the help of celebrities, sport teams, companies, schools, churches, and communities, Hats Off For Cancer grew into an international program. The organization continues to bring awareness to childhood cancer patients by improving their quality of life.

It doesn't take much to give back. You too can help make a childhood cancer patient's smile a bit brighter and their day a bit happier. Visit hatsoffforcancer.org for more ways to get involved.

Nicole Barillari

Middle College High School