Love Your Melon returned from its mobile head-shaving campaign Friday after spending the month of January fulfilling its goal of making a difference in cancer patients’ lives.

Despite cold temperatures, Friday’s LYM homecoming at John P. Monahan Plaza was the go-to spot for students, staff and faculty alike. Hot chocolate, hot apple cider, bagels and Cafe Latte cupcakes were provided inside a tent, and attendees were invited in to purchase hats and t-shirts or to shave their head in exchange for a hat.

“I think it is a unique factor being a non-profit but also having our largest audience be college students and creating a platform for them to get involved,” junior Brian Keller, co-founder of Love Your Melon, said. “Not a lot of students have $25.00 to give away, but getting something in return that they actually like to wear makes it beneficial for them as well as it creates a smile for another child.”

Freshman Cally Samson purchased two hats on Friday to support Love Your Melon’s cause.

“I got one hat for my cousin and one for myself,” Samson said. “It’s a really good cause to support, especially since it’s from our own school.”

Sophomore Ryian Johnson was the first girl to shave her head at the homecoming event. Johnson said she was inspired by connections she has had with someone battling cancer and a friend who passed away from the disease.

“I’m doing this in honor of them, and to support the cause in general,” she said.

St. Thomas’ head football coach Glenn Caruso also took part in the head-shaving. Caruso opted to shave his head for the cause, and because he said he also needed his hair cut.

The Love Your Melon team traveled to more than 10 hospitals and universities across 13 states during the Smile Tour, spending the majority of its time on the campaign bus. Brittany Obee, a St. Thomas alumnus and the Love Your Melon photographer for the tour, said the trip was a great bonding experience.

“We spent every meal together and had so many great experiences,” Obee said.

While on tour the Love Your Melon team also had the opportunity to interact with children from different states who are battling cancer.

“There were many highlights of the trip, each one had different reasons for being so,” Keller said. “Down in Montgomery, Alabama, it was incredible to see one boy smiling and outside of the hospital and with his family and friends.”

The Love Your Melon team also managed to gain publicity and support on their trip, making an appearance on Good Morning America while traveling through New York. Keller and fellow co-founder junior Zachary Quinn said they got the experience they were hoping for.

“We didn’t have a favorite state that we visited, but the University of Virginia was awesome—we sold over 130 hats and even had a girl shave her head,” Keller said. “It was a really cool experience.”

Sofia Brown can be reached at brow3293@stthomas.edu.