By Nate Perez

Love Your Melon is an organization founded in 2012 by two college students at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. Their mission is to improve the lives of children battling cancer. So 50 percent of each sale is donated to their nonprofit partners.

Photo submitted by Lauren Beeman, QU Crew Captain

“I was introduced to Love Your Melon by my friend Ashley Doellman. She encouraged me to buy one, not only because they are cute to wear, but because they support children’s cancer,” sophomore Lauren Nadler said.

Love Your Melon offers the Campus Crew program for college students looking to make a difference. Each college crew spreads the word to students to buy merchandise.

Quincy University has recently started their own chapter in support of the movement. They have presently sold 70 beanies and their goal is 250. They have raised $2,500 for Love Your Melon and $1,250 of that will be donated to pediatric cancer nonprofit organizations.

“I love the idea that as a group we can encourage other students to buy something that not only they will want to use, but also that kids affected with cancer can benefit from their purchase,” secretary Erin Flaherty said.

The chapter recently did a photo shoot with the beanies and hats, so they can show other students around campus their love for the cause. The group continues to grow.

“I joined because I already supported the idea of Love Your Melon from my friends at their school, so when Lauren wanted to start a crew I knew I wanted to be a part of it,” Ashley Doellman, the social media director, said.

The QU crew has been using social media to promote their mission and their products. Here are their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.

The group wants to put a hat on as many QU students as possible.

Many of the students have joined the crew because they want to help Love Your Melon reach their goal and support the mission, but for some students, it can be pretty personal.

“My mom had cancer and so anything I can do to give back, I try to do,” Doellman said. “So many kids with cancer feel alone, and this helps us support them, and show them that people care about them”.

You can help and support the cause by visiting Love Your Melon and select Quincy University to purchase merchandise.