As a 9-year-old undergoing leukemia treatment, Oliver Burkhardt wore a patch-covered denim jacket that his parents decorated with patches from well-wishers all over the world. The jacket became his suit of armor, helping him through his treatment. Oliver felt supported and loved by the positive vibes the patches provided.
Realizing the impact the patches had on Oliver, his parents decided to start the Oliver Patch Project to help other kids battling cancer. The charity provides children with free denim jackets or tote bags adorned with patches selected by the child or parents. Each month, the children receive a new patch in the mail.
The charity aims to empower kids and make them feel like they belong to a larger community. Milestone patches are also provided to help children cope with the challenges of cancer treatment. Siblings of the sick children also receive special patches to ensure they feel included.
The Oliver Patch Project has grown significantly since its inception in 2020, providing support to children across the United States. The charity has also received funding to send patches to children in experimental drug trials in 18 countries worldwide.
Oliver’s parents, Brian Burkhardt and Trisha Brookbank, have dedicated themselves to running the charity full-time. Seeing the impact of the project on children like Ellora and Millie drives Oliver to continue helping kids like himself.
Source
Emil Kovács graduated from the Journalism program at Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary. During his journalism studies, he focused on data journalism, investigative reporting, and multimedia storytelling. He gained experience by writing for the university’s student newspaper, where he gained attention for his articles on social issues. After graduation, Emil began working as a reporter at a European news agency, where he conducts in-depth analyses of international news and current events.
