Everyone is familiar with "buy one, give one" campaigns. The most popular "buy one, give one" is TOMS, where if you buy a pair of their shoes they will give a child in a third-world country a pair of TOMS. Most people don't know, though, that there is a new campaign knocking on our door.

Love Your Melon is on a mission. They aim to provide all kids who are battling cancer with hats. This campaign is run completely by college students who volunteer their time toward the greater good. There are currently 45,000 kids battling cancer in America, and Love Your Melon has reserved just as many hats. These hats are delivered to children in hospitals by people dressed as superheroes--every kid's dream.

One may ask where SIUE fits into all of this. Well, Love Your Melon has a group of students on each of the 225+ schools that it is a part of who are dedicated to improving the lives of children who are battling the vicious disease. SIUE is very lucky to have its own Love Your Melon Campus Crew. The members of this crew are ambassadors for the initiative and are responsible for selling and donating hats. In communities across the country, Campus Crew members are raising the awareness of childhood cancer. We are lucky enough that something this amazing is happening in our own backyard.

Love Your Melon is an ongoing project, as they are trying to put a beanie on the head of each child battling cancer in America. Over 15,000 children are diagnosed every year. Love Your Melon is going to stick around until cancer is a thing of the past. We can only hope, for the kids' sake, that that time is in the near future.

To get involved with SIUE Love Your Melon you can contact them on Facebook, follow them on Instagram, or follow them on Twitter. The Campus Crew at SIUE is made up of 20 members, and they are currently on a wait list. Joining the crew is not the only way you can do your part, though. Remember, if you buy a beanie you're also providing a child battling cancer with a warm melon.