When Oliver Burkhardt underwent leukemia treatment at the tender age of 9, he’d stride into the hospital clad in his patch-covered denim jacket. Emblazoned with Pokemon, Superman, NASA, police, fire, military, and classic rock bands, the jacket bore about 50 patches lovingly sewn on by his parents. These patches were selected from thousands sent by well-wishers worldwide after his dad put out a call on social media.
The jacket became Oliver’s impenetrable suit of armor, shielding him from his ailment and the harsh side effects of his treatment. It fostered connections with nurses and made Oliver feel uniquely special. His parents even adorned their own jackets, reinforcing the sense of unity and kinship. “I knew people were looking out for me, giving me positive vibes, that people loved me,” Oliver, now 13 and in remission, recalled.
Drawing inspiration from how much the jacket and patches buoyed Oliver’s spirits, he and his parents, Brian Burkhardt and Trisha Brookbank, envisioned extending this comfort to other children battling cancer. With their artistic backgrounds, they reached out to designer friends and received an overwhelming 300 patch designs within a day. Thus, the Oliver Patch Project was born.
Three years into its inception, the charity has outfitted over 1,600 children, from infants to 19-year-olds, with either a free denim jacket or a tote bag adorned with 20 patches selected by the child or their parents from the program’s website. Each month, they receive another patch in the mail.
On a recent afternoon in the charity’s office west of Miami, a dozen boxes containing a jacket or tote were prepped for mailing to homes in various cities such as Corpus Christi, Texas; Eagle Mountain, Utah; and Murietta, California. Children with cancer from all 50 states have joined the initiative.
“This program is 100% about empowering the kids and making them feel like they belong to a much bigger community, that they are not alone,” said Brian, a former creative director who now runs the charity full-time. “It’s not really about the patch, it’s about belonging.”
Parents also receive a box of 13 milestone patches to present to their child during common cancer treatments or managing side effects. For instance, a gorilla for starting chemo, a bald eagle for hair loss, and a polar bear for fever. These patches help alleviate some of the trauma, guiding the child toward the coveted “I Rang the Bell” patch for completing a round of treatment.
In recognizing siblings’ importance, the charity also provides special patches to them, a realization sparked by Oliver’s younger brother, Peter. “Everything kind of shifts all your attention to being on the child who’s sick,” remarked their mom, the CFO at her family’s interior design firm.
Although the program is limited to the United States, the charity recently garnered funding to send patches to sick children in experimental drug trials not only within the U.S. but also in 18 other countries.
The charity’s roots trace back to 2020, shortly after Oliver’s diagnosis. He struggled with chemotherapy, and his dad wanted to uplift his spirits and show him the support of a vast community. “He was very tired and very not feeling well,” Brian said.
One day, Brian noticed patches he’d previously stored away. He thought Oliver might enjoy receiving some by mail, a task easily manageable even during the COVID-19 lockdown. “It’s an easy ask. They can drop a patch in an envelope, and in return, it gave Oliver something to look forward to. Checking the mail every day would get him off the sofa,” Brian shared.
Brian’s request on Facebook quickly took off. The first patch, a kangaroo, arrived soon. A trickle turned into a deluge, with 2,000 patches arriving that month, 70% from strangers. “I was like, ‘Wow, this is all for me?’ I was genuinely super surprised,” Oliver said. “They were all different colors and came with nice notes, like ‘Hope you feel better.’” His parents sewed some onto the family’s jackets while in his hospital room.
Once Brian conceived the idea of supporting other children, he mobilized resources. Men’s clothier Perry Ellis began donating jackets and tote bags, while foundations and donors provided necessary funding. The charity hired a patch manufacturer and a seamstress, with each child’s package costing about $350.
As the Oliver Patch Project gained momentum, word spread to children’s hospitals, parental support groups, and Ronald McDonald Houses, enrolling about 30 children weekly.
Dr. Maggie Fader, an oncologist at Miami’s Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, where Oliver was treated, emphasized the impact of boosting a sick child’s morale on their recovery. “If patients start to become depressed or negative about the way things are going, they also start to be less cooperative,” Dr. Fader explained. “We can give them medications, administer IV fluids, and provide chemotherapy, but we can’t make them eat, maintain good nutrition, or comply with oral medications at home. These are areas where their willingness and participation are crucial.”
Children like 7-year-old Ellora Hendrickson from North Smithfield, Rhode Island, have found joy and comfort through the program. Diagnosed with kidney cancer last year, Ellora decorated her jacket with patches reflective of her interests, such as a ballerina for her dance lessons and an avocado, her favorite food. “The patches are really special to me because they helped my journey through cancer,” she shared.
Ashley Hendrickson, Ellora’s mom, discovered the program through social media from another parent whose child has cancer. “It was really nice to have something fun to associate with these otherwise fairly scary milestones,” she noted, appreciating the juxtaposition of a heavy experience with joyful, childlike patches.
Even younger children, like 3-year-old Millie McHardy from Norwalk, Connecticut, find solace in the patches. Recovering from an abdominal tumor, Millie appreciates each new patch she earns after facing challenging treatments. “Every time she does something hard, whether it’s chemo, a transfusion, or something else, she gets a new patch. I sew those onto her jacket, and she loves that,” said her mother, Becky McHardy.
For Oliver, knowing that a project catalyzed by his own battle with illness now helps other children is a profound source of pride. He sometimes travels to meet project recipients, including at a recent event hosted by the Nasdaq Stock Market in New York City, where the exchange featured the kids’ photo on its Times Square video board. “It makes me feel great that I’m able to talk to other kids like me, share what this is all about and hopefully help more,” he said.
