The school year had barely begun when students at Warren East High School in Bowling Green, Kentucky, received heartbreaking news: Mrs. Brown, their 35-year-old art teacher, had breast cancer.
Having seen loved ones battle cancer, the students understood the difficult road ahead. But in their conversations with Mrs. Brown, three teens discovered a challenge they’d never considered before—finding port-accessible clothing for chemotherapy.
They knew they had to do something about it.
From Concern to Action
Mrs. Brown shared how difficult it was to find clothing that was both comfortable and provided easy access to her chemotherapy port. After researching online, the students—members of Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA)—found that port-accessible garments existed, but they were expensive and often out of reach for patients already facing financial hardships.
“Many families face financial difficulties after a cancer diagnosis, and purchasing a $40–$70 garment is just not realistic,” one student reflected.
The teens considered purchasing and donating shirts—but quickly became frustrated by the high costs. Instead, they decided to take matters into their own hands.
With the support of local businesses, the students gathered donations of shirts and zippers, learned to sew, and began designing their own port-accessible garments. They named their project ChemoComfort and got to work.
Watch Their Inspiring Story
See how these student leaders turned compassion into action.
A Far-Reaching Impact
The students handmade and distributed their first 25 ChemoComfort shirts to cancer patients at Bowling Green’s Medical Center Oncology Department. The patients were thrilled, and their was overwhelming:
“I will never forget the pure joy they experienced in that moment,” one student shared.
It wasn’t just the cancer patients who felt the impact of the project—the experience transformed the students themselves.
“This showed me that I have the ability to make a difference in someone’s life when they are going through a time of burden, doubt, and crisis.”
The students’ FCCLA sponsor was equally moved by their efforts:
“These students of mine are talented, dedicated, and have the biggest hearts for solving problems in our area. I am amazed at the work they completed, and I hope this is just the beginning for ChemoComfort.”
Experiencing the joy they brought these patients helped these students come to believe that they have it within them to make a real impact in the lives of others.
Lead4Change: Giving Students the Tools to Lead
The students behind ChemoComfort didn’t just have a great idea—they had the determination, confidence, and leadership skills to make it happen. The Lead4Change curriculum equipped these teens with the tools they needed to create a lasting impact in their community.
With the support of Lead4Change’s Small Grants Program, ChemoComfort is continuing! With additional funding from Lead4Change, the students will be able to sew and distribute another 500 garments across Kentucky and beyond—helping more patients feel comfortable and cared for during treatment.
📢 Want to bring a project like this to life in your school?
Learn more about how Lead4Change and the Small Grants Program can help fund student-led initiatives in your community
Empowering Your Students to Lead with Purpose
If you’re ready to equip your students with the tools they need to create meaningful change, check out the Lead4Change curriculum—a free leadership program designed for middle and high school students.
With Lead4Change, students learn to:
- Identify real needs in their communities
- Develop creative solutions to ignite positive change
- Take meaningful action to bring communities closer together
Just like the students behind ChemoComfort, your students have the potential to create real change—they just need the right tools.
Get Started Today