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‘Happy Hatter’ Hat Drive: Collecting caps for young cancer patients

Posted at 8:14 PM, Jan 16, 2015
and last updated 2015-01-16 20:45:55-05

GRAND RAPIDS,  Mich. -- More than 1,200 hats have taken over the office of Integrated Architecture (IA) this month. The hats, all brand new and donated, are going to benefit young cancer patients at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital as part of the "Happy Hatter" Hat Drive.

The special campaign was created by Darrel DeHaan, a Senior Project Manager at IA. He wanted a way to pay tribute to his son, while helping other kids fighting cancer. Cooper DeHaan, 5, passed away in August after relapsing from Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

"This is something that's an extension of our journey and our fighting back, for all the Coopers that are still out there," explained DeHaan. "Hats just seem like a fun way to give back a little happiness, bring these kids a little bit of hope and with the weather the way it is, hopefully a little bit of warmth."

DeHaan plans to drop off the creative caps next week, but is still accepting donations through January 22nd.

New, unworn hats can be dropped off at Integrated Architecture, located at 4090 Lake Drive SE in Grand Rapids.