Do you know a child battling cancer or a life-threatening illness? Be a champion of the cause, Cowboys Who Care Foundation seeks to reach more children as it launches its Request A Hat program. The Fort Worth, Texas-based Cowboys Who Care Foundation, founded by comedian William Lee Martin (Cowboy Bill) and his wife, Michele Martin, have delivered more than 8,000 cowboy hats to boys and girls during hospital visits across the country and now, the nonprofit wants to take it a step further. The Request a Hat program is an opportunity to let CWCF know about a kid in your town who could use a cowboy hat.
“It is our belief that there is nothing more precious than a child’s smile,” said CWCF co-founder Michele Martin. “Cowboy hats are still a symbol of bravery, honor and now with the help from our supporters, compassion.”
Cowboy Bill has been bringing laughs by night to his fans and smiles by day to kids since 2011 when the 501(c)3 nonprofit began traveling to children’s hospitals across the country providing emotional support, smiles and free cowboy hats to children battling cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.
It all began with a young girl named Ashley Miller. Cowboy Bill was asked to perform at Miller’s charity golf tournament that benefited her fight against a rare form of cancer. A year later, Cowboy Bill received the news that Miller lost her battle. The impact of the news weighed heavily on Cowboy Bill and made him want to take-action and help other kids just like her.
“After Ashley lost her battle, I knew I needed to help other kids just like her,” said CEO and founder Cowboy Bill. “I started searching images of kids with cancer and saw their big beautiful smiles and bald heads. And in the mirror, I could see my cowboy hat and it hit me, these kids need cowboy hats.”
Thanks to the foundation’s first and largest supporter, Resistol, the cowboy hats are the real deal. From the very beginning, Resistol has provided thousands of hats for free in 10 to 15 different styles. The company also went the extra mile to customize these hats by developing a special comfort fit liner for the children that helps with scalp sensitivity. Help us reaffirm the strength and bravery these children have by visiting our website www.cowboyswhocare.org and filling out the Request a Hat form.
