“Ryan’s Case for Smiles (formerly ConKerr Cancer) started when Cindy Kerr’s son was diagnosed with cancer in 2002 and she began making pillowcases to brighten up his hospital room and to put a smile on his face. He loved it and so she began making pillowcases for other children on the Oncology Unit at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Since then the pillowcase project has grown in amazing ways.School groups, sewing circles, church groups, and fabric stores have all pitched in and are making pillow cases to comfort children in hospitals around the world. Thousands of Ryan’s Case for Smiles volunteers in over 120 cities dedicate themselves to brightening children’s lives through the simple act of sewing a bright, cheery pillowcase. As a result of their love and generosity, Ryan’s Case for Smiles has delivered more than 1,000,000 pillowcases in just seven years to 330 hospitals across the globe. In addition, Ryan’s Case for Smiles volunteers visit hospitals to sew with the children and their families, breaking up the monotony of long, frightening hospital stays.

Ryan’s Case for Smiles has been able to make amazing progress towards fulfilling our goal of making hospital stays as pleasant as possible for chronically ill children and their parents. A simple pillowcase means so much to a child while they’re in the hospital and away from home. It helps cheer them up, gives them something soft to snuggle, reminds them of the comforts of home, helps calm their fears and brightens up their hospital room. Simultaneously the pillowcase project has fostered a spirit of community and volunteer service in communities across the world. Unfortunately there are always new little patients who need our love and support, and we must continue our efforts to help brighten patients’ lives and raise awareness about childhood cancer and other childhood illnesses.

Information on how you can help Ryan’s Case for Smiles and help kids feel better so they can heal better can be found at www.caseforsmiles.org“

Quick Pillowcase Tutorial

Overcast Foot

Giveaway Details

The giveaway will be a challenge: each pillowcase sent to Kelsey as a result of this blog post will count as an entry to win a Tula Pink Pillowcase Kit from Fabric Spark, so the more you sew, the better your chances! Be sure to let Kelsey know I sent you, so she can include your cases toward the giveaway. You will have until September 30, 2015 to get your cases to her to be entered. Also make sure to leave her your contact info. I’ll announce progress and the winner of the kit on my facebook page, so be sure to follow me there to keep in touch. Update: The Giveaway is over, but pillowcases are always welcomed.