CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Pediatric patients at UNC Hospital had a cheerful start to the morning thanks to "Headbands of Hope."

The organization, started by NC State graduate Jess Ekstrom, hands out headbands to children with cancer and other serious illnesses for every headband sold.

The mission started after realizing many kids wanted headbands as a way to dress up after dealing with hair loss from chemotherapy.

Tuesday, that mission went one step further because kids had a chance to decorate headbands of their own.

"Choosing the colors and choosing what I get to put on, instead of someone telling me, 'Hey, you've got to do this' and 'Hey, you've got to put that on'," said patient Piper Little. "I like doing it my own way."

Over the last five years, Headbands of Hope has given away hundreds of thousands of headbands to kids with cancer in every children's hospital across the country.

To find out more information about how you can get involved with Headbands of Hope, go to headbandsofhope.com.