ConKerr Cancer - A Case For Smiles

In 2002, Ryan Kerr was diagnosed with a rare childhood cancer.  Our founder, Cindy Kerr, began making pillowcases to brighten up his hospital room and to put a smile on his face.  He loved it and she began making pillowcases for other children with cancer at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. 

In 2008, Ryan lost his very brave battle with cancer but the pillowcase project - now a not-for- profit called ConKerr Cancer – A Case For Smiles - has grown in amazing ways.  In just two years, Cindy and thousands of volunteers have provided nearly 35,000 pillowcases to sick children in hospitals across North America and in South Africa.  School groups, sewing circles, church groups and fabric stores have all pitched in and are making pillowcases for the kids. 

A quote from one dad shows how a little pillowcase can make a big difference to a young patient, “Things came to a head for my daughter last night when she refused to let anyone touch her. I think she just had enough poking and prodding as a child can stand. Well, the child life specialist brought her one of your pillowcases and since then, she has been more cooperative in letting the medical team access her IV and conduct diagnostic testing, She actually has become attached to the ‘magic pillowcase’.” 

ConKerr Cancer has had a profound effect on the families we have already reached, and we are deeply committed to providing even more pillowcases – and smiles! – to sick children everywhere. 

We hope you will join us – we guarantee it will put a smile on your face too!