Reaching out to children suffering from a deadly disease, the Kentwood kids collected more than $500 during their Hats On Day fundraiser for the Foundation for Children With Cancer.

Kentwood Principal Dana Byrd said her students raised $508 in about a week. The wearing of hats symbolizes compassion for cancer patients, many of whom are forced to wear hats because they lose their hair during radiation or chemotherapy treatments

“When you consider that we have a couple of children with cancer in this building, you can understand that this is something very near and dear to my heart,” Byrd said. “It's very heart-warming to see the kids recognize the need and reach out to help other kids.”

The event was part of a nationwide effort in which students pay a fee for the privilege of wearing a hat on campus to help raise cancer awareness. The event, which originated in St. Louis, was first held in 1995, according to foundation literature.

That year, four sixth-graders began a fundraiser when their friend and classmate was diagnosed with Non-Hodkin's Lymphoma. Since that time, the event has spread across the country, the literature stated.

Foundation officials said that funds raised are used to make young cancer patients' daily lives more comfortable as they deal with the disease.

Contact Staff Writer Steve Reagan at 263-7331 ext. 234 or by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it