“It can be really scary, but if we didn’t take risks, there would be no exploration, small businesses, or other factors that drive innovation.” – Jessica Ekstrom

Childhood is a time most of us are lucky enough to look back upon with nostalgia. A time in life filled with hope, imaginary worlds, princesses and unicorns, days spent living in swimming pools, and sleepless evenings thanks to slumber parties with your best friend.

But for a few brave souls, childhood is filled needles, hospitals, and chemo. The unbridled joy and imagination synonymous with childhood still exists, just temporarily placed on hold as they fight real life dragons.

That’s where Jess Ekstrom comes in. Through Headbands of Hope, Jess restores a sense of wonder and color to their life. A tangible reminder that they are brave, strong, beautiful, and loved. She restores hope in a time of darkness. As this week’s #WCW Spotlight, Jess shares her story and why serving this brave kids motivates her daily.

Me: When did the idea for Headbands of Hope first come to you?

Jess: During the summer of 2011 when I was in college, I interned at a wish-granting organization for kids with life-threatening illnesses. I saw so many girls migrating towards headbands instead of wigs after hair-loss. Headbands gave them the opportunity to regain their feminine identity without hiding what they’re going through with a wig. So for every headband sold, a headband is given to a child with cancer.

Me: How did the idea of specifically donating headbands (and buffs for boys) to children undergoing chemo come about?

Jess: I started searching for organizations that provided headbands to girls undergoing chemotherapy, but couldn’t find any. I realized this was a need that wasn’t being met. So I took my junior year of college to create Headbands of Hope.

Me: Out of all the different causes and issues in the world, what is it about children’s cancer that resonates so deeply and motivates you to dedicate so much of your life to finding an end?

Jess: It’s hard to accept anyone having cancer, but especially kids. Childhood cancer research is also extremely under-funded. I wanted to not only enhance the lives of patients, but I also wanted to use our business model to help fund a cure.

Me: As you shared above, you started Headbands of Hope during your junior year of college. How did you balance a full school load while also launching a new business?

Jess: Being a college student, I had so many resources right at my fingertips to help build a business plan and get the ball rolling. I set up meetings with the business school (I was a communications major with no business experience), graphic design students, textile professors and anyone else I felt could help me.
I didn’t spend too much time worrying about having everything in place. I just started working and things started to come together, even though I didn’t have everything planned out from the beginning. Of course I made mistakes along the way, but you learn from them and move on. If you want something bad enough, there should be no obstacle too big to stop you.

Me: Headbands of Hope recently celebrated its 4th birthday. What did you do to celebrate?

Jess: It was so exciting! We did an Instagram campaign where people could nominate a hospital to win 1,000 headbands. We chose 4 hospitals to donate 4,000 headbands on our birthday!

Me: In looking back over the last four years, what has been the most surprising part of your adventure? What about the most inspiring part?

Jess: The most surprising part has been the support systems that have evolved for me personally. It’s really incredible to see people rally around a cause that’s important to you and offer their support and talents. I’ve gained so many new people in my life that inspire me to keep moving forward.

Me: Of all the people you’ve been able to help and the lives you’ve touched; are there any special stories that stand out?

Jess: Every time I walk into a hospital room, my whole life shifts around and nothing else matters except for that moment. One time, I gave a girl a headband and she said she wanted to give me a headband too, but asked if it was okay that my headband was on a piece of paper.

On another hospital visit, I met a 15-year-old girl and spent the day with her. Her mom called me a week later saying that she had passed away. Her mom said she was calling me because she wanted headbands for all of the women to wear to her funeral the next day because she loved her headband so much during her last week of life.
It’s moments like these that define why I do what I do. If I can make a girl feel normal and comfortable in her own skin with just a headband, then I’m going to do everything I can to make give a headband to every girl battling cancer.

Me: Over the past few years, Headbands of Hope has collaborated with the Kyle Petty Charity Ride. How did this collaboration come to life?

Jess: It started with our donations at Victory Junction. We absolutely love their mission and wanted to be involved any way we can. So when they told us about the Charity Ride, we new we wanted all the riders wearing Headbands of Hope across America!

Me: As part of your collaboration with Kyle Petty and the Charity Ride, you also support his Victory Junction Camp, as you mentioned earlier. What is so special about this camp that brings you back every year?

Jess: Victory Junction makes every kid, no matter his or her illness or disability, be able to feel like a kid. There is nothing at this camp that a child can’t do or participate in. We wanted to help contribute to their mission of making camp fun and special by giving headbands to all the campers. We’ve done it for the past 3 years and plan to continue every summer!

Me: Has giving back always been a major theme in your life? Or something that came about later in life?

Jess: Looking back on our childhood, my parents never ‘drilled’ us with giving back. However, they showed us through example about the importance of being kind to everyone you meet. So as I got older, I was always looking for ways to make people’s lives a bit easier or fix problems that needed to be solved.

Me: You started as a photographer working at Disney World before the idea for Headbands Of Hope came to life. What convinced you to take this leap into using your creativity to help others?

Jess: When I was at Disney, my favorite thing to do was photograph and interact with families there on their wish trip. That’s what originally drew me into the cause and how I could help more. So when I got back from my Disney internship, I immediately applied for an internship at Make-A-Wish.

Me: What is the one piece of advice you would want to share with someone who wants to follow in your footsteps of using their own unique talents and life experiences to give back?

Jess: Every great accomplishment starts with the decision to go for it. I’m a speaker at Campuspeak, and one of the main points I like to share with college students is making the decision to take risks. It can be really scary, but if we didn’t take risks, there would be no exploration, small businesses or other factors that drive innovation. Also, there will always be an excuse that it’s not a “good time.” There’s no such thing as the perfect time! I started Headbands of Hope when I was taking an 18-hour course load. If you believe in something enough, time isn’t an issue.

Keep up with Jess and her adventures with Headbands of Hope on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.