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Cancer survivor crocheting thousands of hats for young patients

Posted at 5:56 PM, Feb 20, 2015
and last updated 2015-02-20 19:07:07-05

WYOMING, Mich., --  Rachel Rincones has been using her passion for crocheting to pay it forward to kids fighting cancer and their families with the group Michigan Crochet for Cancer. Over the past two years, she has crafted thousands of hats that have been donated to the Ronald McDonald House.

"As far as we know, they love them," Rincones told FOX 17 News. "I know what it's like to have cancer... I know the kids need them. Your head gets cold, and of course, I'm pretty sure they're a lot happier when they have them."

Rincones makes about 100 hats a month on her own. She hasn't missed a beat, despite recently being diagnosed with Leukemia. Rincones underwent chemo, a bone marrow transplant and other treatments in Ann Arbor. Her crocheting tools went with her.

"She had her hooks and yarn at the hospital," said Carol Hoffman, a close friend and member of Michigan Crochet for Cancer. "Everything she went through, and she's still putting everyone else first. Everybody is first before herself."

Rincones is in remission now, but said her fight made her even more passionate about using her hobby to help others.

"For what I had to go through, for a kid, that must just be 3 times as bad or worse," she said. "I just know cancer hasn't been cured yet.  [Crocheting hats] could go on the rest of my life...If I can make them smile, that's good."

To learn more about Michigan Crochet for Cancer, click here.

A GoFund Page has also been established to help Rincones with her medical bills. If you'd like to donate, click here.