When I was 12 years old my mother was diagnosed with Stage 1 Breast Cancer and had to go through chemotherapy treatment.  I remember when it was time to go wig shopping, she came home extremely upset to the point of crying.  When I asked her why she was so upset, she explained to me that the whole wig buying process made her feel worse about herself than she already did.  She told me that every wig store she went to was cold and unaccommodating.  Another part that shocked her was she couldn’t believe the price tags on something she needed/wanted to help her somewhat feel like herself during this exasperating time.  

Fast forward 13 years and she was diagnosed with stage four Breast Cancer.  When I started thinking of what was going to happen in the coming months / years, I remembered my mother’s wig story.  It got me thinking that there had to be a better way for someone going through chemo to receive a wig and enjoy the process, rather than dread the process. That is when Hats On Hats Off, the original name of the 501c3 nonprofit, was founded.  I made it my mission to raise funds to gift wigs and other headwear to cancer patients going through chemotherapy experiencing induced alopecia. 

My mother, Donna Beattie, passed away August 1, 2021, after six years of fighting the Big C.  After her passing, we renamed the nonprofit to honor her, our inspiration.  We are now proudly called the Donna Beattie Foundation.