Cuddles for Cancer Blankets the World in Hope

Story by: ELLISPark.co I Nov. 24, 2023

When she was nine years old, Faith Dickinson made a fleece blanket for her aunt Lyndi who was undergoing cancer treatment. When she received the gift, her aunt explained to Faith that many other cancer patients also get cold during their treatments. Dickinson decided to make blankets for other people undergoing cancer treatments, and Cuddles for Cancer was born. It’s hard to imagine that Dickinson would go on to make 3,500 fleece blankets for cancer patients over the next five years. She said at the time, “Everyone deserves a cuddle.”

Since Cuddles for Cancer began in 2011, volunteers – ranging from the ages of two to 104 – have made over 10,000 Cuddle blankets to be sent to over 50 countries worldwide. Cuddle blankets are also made for more than just cancer patients. In 2017, Dickinson was inspired by the Yellow Ribbon Campaign in Buckhorn, Ont., a program that sends care packages to soldiers in the field, and developed a special blanket for Canadian veterans and soldiers. Cuddle blankets are also donated to people suffering from other illnesses, as well as the homeless.

In addition to being the founder of Cuddles for Cancer (Dickinson’s mother now manages the day-to-day operations), Dickinson participates in local and global events that support positive change. In 2017, she was one of 20 people around the world selected to receive the Diana Award, which commemorates the legacy of the late Princess Diana. Recently, Dickinson went to Belfast as a member of the Canadian Delegation for the United Nations One Young World Summit, where she graduated as a One Young World Ambassador. We can only imagine what acts of good she and Cuddles for Cancer will achieve over the next decade.

For more information, go to cuddlesforcancer.ca.