If you have never heard of Love Your Melon before then you are surley missing out! Not only is the name super cute, but it is an awesome, nationwide organization that helps improve the lives of children battling cancer.
According to their website, they began their mission in 2012. Since then, Love Your Melon has went on two nationwide tours coast to coast. I had to opportunity to interview Mackenzie Williams, the captain of Love Your Melon’s Winthrop University Campus Crew, to get the inside scoop.
Meet Mackenzie!
Mackenzie is a senior psychology major, and after graduation she hopes to become a Child Life Specialist. She was drawn to Love Your Melon because cancer is a subject that is very close to her.
When she was a child, her grandmother passed away from breast cancer and ever since then she has had the desire to become involved in the fight against cancer. This past semester her best friend with diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma and had to medically withdraw for the semester. This made her feel like she wanted to help even more in any way that she could.
She then came across Love Your Melon and was hooked. She had experienced firsthand how cancer effected the lives of adults and it broke her heart to think of little children going through those same struggles.
What else should we know about Love Your Melon?
Love Your Melon is an organization that sells merchandise such as beanies, baseball caps, T-shirts, mugs, etc. However, when you purchase a hat, you’re doing so much more than getting an adorable new accessory.
For every hat sold a child with cancer receives a hat of their own. Also, half of the proceeds go to other organizations like Cure Search and Pinkyswear, which are groups that help the families of the children.
Why is Love Your Melon important to WU?
Love Your Melon is important to Winthrop because every crew gets credits. Once the cew recieves enough credits, they have the opportunity to go out into Rock Hill and surrounding areas to give children The Super Hero Experience.
The Super Hero Experience is when crew members go visit the children dressed as super heroes, and the kids get a chance to do super hero missions and recieve their hat.
Want to get involved?
Unfortunately, Winthrop’s Love Your Melon Crew is currently full. However, that does not mean that you cannot be put on a waiting list for when the next available spot becomes open.
They also accept volunteers for some of their bigger events, and you can always become involved by simply purchasing products and making sure to put Winthrop at your checkout!
Check out Winthrop’s Love Your Melon Crew:
IG @wu.loveyourmleon.campuscrew
Twitter @wucampuscrew