By: Alyssa Rester

Many kids have the glorious dream of standing in front of Cinderella’s castle and spending their day living like a king or queen in the happiest place on earth. Unfortunately, there are many kids who dream this dream from their hospital beds. Crowns Against Cancer is a non- profit organization whose main goal is to bring a little bit of magic to a child who is fighting cancer.

The organization was started by President Ilinca Caluser and Vice President Ria Perez, both being local and native Michiganders. The two came up with the idea based on their love for princesses and the magic that surrounded them and their fairytale lives. “The hospitals can often be a very scary place for many children and having the cheerful, magical presence of their favorite princesses and fairy-tale characters can be such a comfort to them at a time when they should be able to have fun and enjoy their childhood,” said Caluser.

The main goal of Crowns against Cancer is to bring life back to these children’s dull hospital rooms and to give them back some of that magic that they are losing during their fight with cancer. By dressing up as a child’s favorite fictional character, members of Crowns against Cancer are pressing pause on a child’s daily battle and bringing back a smile to their faces. “Through our visits, we are committed to making each and every child feel special, and do what we can to give them a piece of their childhood back,” said Vice President Ria Perez.

While it is not only very difficult for a child during their battle against cancer, it also is heartbreaking to watch as a parent. When your child gets to smile and get just a sliver of a normal childhood back, it warms a parent’s heart and eases their mind for even just a few minutes. Former cancer parent Joy Rester, said “Seeing your seven-month old son be put through MRIs and undergo multiple surgeries is a feeling that I would never wish upon anyone. I wish there was something like Crowns against Cancer to bring a little bit of happiness to that sad and nerve racking room we were in and to give Alex some of his life back.”

Crowns Against Cancer has focused on the pediatric cancer community, but has begun to branch out into diverse hospital communities, such as the special needs community.  The organization is doing its best to move throughout the state of Michigan to help spread some magic to children in need. Crowns Against Cancer is taking donations and is always seeking out new faces to help join the cause. you can visit their website to find out how to join a team or to donate to their cause today.