Who Needs a Tree Hugger When You Can Have a Head Hugger?

Sue Thompson--the brains and brawn behind a network of knitters and crocheters called Head Huggers. They make caps for patients expressing the side effects of chemotherapy and cancer treatment.

Some of you may recall last December, Debi Cates and 2 Things Challenge participated in a Holiday Charity Event being hosted by D.C. Confidential on her other blog, The Chronicles of Tewkesbury. For anyone who participated, Debi and Janet said they would contribute $5 per person to the charity of choice designated by a woman and cancer fighter named Susan Neibuhr. Susan writes a blog called Toddler Planet, which was the inspiration for the holiday charity event and she provided a list of organizations she supports. One of them was a one-woman organization in Stevensville, Maryland, near Annapolis called Head Huggers.

Yesterday, Janet drove out to Stevensville--about 45 miles east of Washington, D.C., and finally met Sue Thompson, M.D. (retired)--the brains and drive behind Head Huggers--and presented a check for $200! Sue's mission is to provide chemo caps to cancer patients. As you know, one of the side effects of chemotherapy is hair loss, which results in cold heads. Sue's head huggers ward off the cold and help patients avoid loss of body heat.

Since 2001, Sue and her network of crocheters and knitters have made more than 50,000 head huggers and sent out just as many to patients and treatment centers nationwide. Sue receives yarn donated from all over the country, which she distributes to her network. They, in turn, knit and crochet caps, then return them to Sue for distribution.

If you have yarn you'd like to donate, Sue would be happy to have it. If you knit or crochet and you'd like to join her network, Sue would be happy to have you. And if you have a few dollars to spare to help Sue (she and her husband are retired and living on a fixed income) defray the cost of shipping the caps, I know she'd be touched and appreciative. To contact Sue and find out how you can get involved, visit her website.

Finally, a special thank you to those of you who participated in this fundraiser through 2 Things Challenge. Debi and I really appreciate your generosity and I know Sue does, too!

Thank you!

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential