A wall displays some of the thousands of patches sent to Oliver Burkhardt when he was undergoing cancer treatment at age 9, inside the offices of the Oliver Patch Project, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
When Oliver Burkhardt was nine and battling leukemia, he entered the hospital each time wearing a denim jacket adorned with over 50 patches. These patches featured a range of designs, from Pokémon and Superman to NASA, police, fire departments, and classic rock bands. They were sewn on by his parents, handpicked from thousands sent by supporters around the world after his father, Brian Burkhardt, posted a social media request.
This jacket became a symbol of strength for Oliver, shielding him from the harsh realities of his illness and treatment. It sparked conversations with nurses and gave him a sense of belonging. His parents even decorated their own jackets, making it a family effort. For Oliver, the patches were more than just decorations. "They made me feel special and loved," he said. Now 13 and in remission, Oliver reflects on how the jacket filled him with positivity.
Inspired by the comfort the jacket brought Oliver, his parents, Brian and Trisha Brookbank, launched the Oliver Patch Project. With their backgrounds in art, they connected with designer friends and quickly received 300 patch designs. Three years later, their charity has provided over 1,600 children battling cancer with denim jackets or tote bags, each decorated with patches chosen by the child or their parents. Every month, the children receive another patch in the mail, a small but meaningful gesture during their treatment.
From their office in Florida, the charity sends jackets and totes to kids across the U.S., in cities like Corpus Christi, Texas, and Murietta, California. Brian, who now runs the organization full-time, explains the goal: "This project is all about giving kids a sense of community and belonging." Parents also receive milestone patches to mark key moments during treatment, like starting chemotherapy or losing hair.
The initiative even extends support to siblings, offering them special patches too, an insight that came from Oliver's younger brother, Peter. While the charity mainly operates in the U.S., it has recently expanded its efforts to provide patches to children in 18 other countries who are participating in experimental drug trials.
The idea for the project originated in 2020 when Oliver was undergoing chemotherapy. Wanting to lift his son’s spirits, Brian asked friends to send patches. The first one, a kangaroo, arrived soon after. Within a month, they had received over 2,000 patches, most from strangers.
As the Oliver Patch Project continues to grow, more families, like the Hendricksons and McHardys, find comfort in the simple joy of a patch, making their journey through cancer just a little bit brighter.
