My name is Holly Christensen. I have often witnessed the scary and painful world of cancer as an oncology nurse, friend, and family member. I’ve always held my cancer patients very close to my heart.
In 2014, upon learning that a friend’s daughter had been diagnosed with cancer and would likely be in the hospital for a while, I began to think of what I could do to help bring some magic and light to this little girl’s life during the trying days that I knew were ahead for her.
Knowing how difficult it would be for her to lose her beautiful blonde curls, I made her a Rapunzel yarn wig and sent it in the mail.
She was overcome with joy.
My friend remarked at how many other little girls in that hospital would love to have such a special gift, as it had had such an impact on her daughter’s demeanor and happiness during her treatments.
I began to organize what I thought would be a small project creating a few dozen wigs to send to little cancer patients, and I put up a request on Facebook for yarn donations. Within hours, I was flooded with responses from around the world—mothers who wanted these wigs for their little girls who have cancer, complete strangers who wanted to help by donating money to buy yarn, professionals reaching out and requesting wigs for their hospitals, and more.
What started as a small project has snowballed into something much bigger than I ever expected! Thanks to the popularity of these wigs, The Magic Yarn Project was born, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. We are the original and the largest organization making yarn wigs for children with medical hair loss.
Our entire Magic Yarn team has been overwhelmed with the donations and desire to help that has come from all over the world. Since our humble beginnings in 2015, the spirit of service has touched the hearts of tens of thousands. We estimate that Magic Yarn has spurred over 300,000 hours of volunteering over the last decade. We have received thousands of photos and stories from grateful parents, telling us how much it meant to their child to feel comfortable and playful again. Children rest in bed with their wigs when they are too sick to play; they wear them for courage during painful procedures; they show them off when they triumphantly ring the bell signaling their graduation from chemotherapy. Some grieving parents have even told us that the child they lost was buried wearing their Magic Yarn wig. Our hearts are shattered and healed over and over again when we hear how much it means to suffering families to know that strangers cared enough about their child to send them a handmade gift. The knowledge that they are not alone in the worst ordeal of their lives is a priceless gift.
Our ever-growing organization is funded solely by donations, and we are still 100% volunteer powered. The Magic Yarn Project was created to answer the call to bring light to little cancer fighters, and to help community members discover ways to be those light-givers. We’d like to invite you to watch our 4-minute video, and see for yourself that Magic is something that you can make: http://youtu.be/E9wtHskTI2g.
Yours in service,
Holly Christensen
Founder & CEO
Holly Christensen, Palmer, AK
Founder and Board President
Raised in both Alaska and Mexico, Holly has appreciated a diversity of experience and culture throughout her life. She has learned that one constant in life no matter where you go are the amazing accomplishments and acts of love that people are capable of. Holly’s desire to help and serve others led her to pursue her Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. During her college education, she completed a maternity hospital internship in central Argentina, utilizing her Spanish-speaking skills in the medical setting and helping to create educational tools for postpartum mothers.
As an RN, Holly has worked in oncology, ICU, Alzheimer’s, and orthopedics. Holly now spends her time devoted to raising her three children and running The Magic Yarn Project, which she co-founded out of her one-car garage. She was named BYU’s College of Nursing 2018 “Alumna of the Year” for her work with The Magic Yarn Project.
