Scarf Carries Message of Hope
5.14.04
By: JESSICA MUSICAR - For the North County Times

It was a small gift, but it meant so much to Kate Whalen, as she struggled through multiple sessions of chemotherapy. The gift, a small blue-and-green scarf, which she wore upon her head as her hair began to fall out, was sewn with several 3-by-5-inch patches inscribed with messages of hope from her family.

"I cried when I got it," Whalen said. "It just made me feel so loved and needed and that I (had) to get through this to be here for my family."

The idea for the scarf came from Whalen's youngest sibling, Mark Hellickson, who wanted to do something for his sister that would show how much he loved and supported her, especially since he could not visit her daily. Hellickson, who resides in Solana Beach and has a full-time job, did not have the time to see his sister in Orange County.

Soon after, Hellickson and his wife, Ashley, realized that the scarf could be used by others to help a friend or loved one battle an ailment. So they created the "Hopie," a 22-by-22-inch crepe de Chine scarf decorated with various patterns designed to leave room for written messages from family, friends or co-workers.

"We thought this would be something good to share with other people who are going through the same thing," Mark Hellickson said.

Whalen's battle with cancer wasn't the only reason behind starting up Hopie. At the time, Ashley Hellickson, who formerly worked in the advertising industry, was pregnant with twins and wanted to find a new career that would allow her to work from home. Selling Hopies just seemed to be the best way for her to do this, she said.

Patterns include "Dreams" -- a scarf with white clouds on a blue background -- and a purple, green and white star design called "Wishes." In the center of each scarf are the words "Hopie: I am surrounded by hope."

Selling for $40, each Hopie comes with a gel-ink pen and a mesh bag to hold the entire kit.
Although Hopies are generally intended for people going through any sort of struggle, be it cancer or a divorce, they can also be given as a gift to honor a birth or a wedding, Ashley Hellickson said.
For those who have received a Hopie while coping with a surgery or illness, the scarf acts as a physical representation of the love and hope their family feels for them, said Beverlee Frisch, who got one before going into surgery for a radical hysterectomy in January.

"It was like I had their thoughts and their prayers with me. It was a physical piece of them that I could take with me," Ashley Hellickson said.

"If you get a card that says 'Get well quick,' it's just cardboard. This is something that is warm and soft."

The Hellicksons officially launched the business in February and are selling the Hopies online. They are giving 10 percent of sales to cancer research organizations such as the American Cancer Society and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Mark Hellickson said.

The scarves are manufactured in Korea, but are designed by a San Marcos-based screen printing company. However, Ashley Hellickson folds each herself.

"This one felt really good. You don't necessarily get that in everyday life," Ashley Hellickson said.
Mark Hellickson, who is a real estate developer, said he hopes to market the Hopie to some of the doctors he works with daily.

So far, the couple has sold between 30 and 40 Hopies to acquaintances and through word-of-mouth. Grossing about $2,000 since February, the Hellicksons said their business should skyrocket once the public is aware of them because their product is so thoughtful and inspirational.

"If you ever had a friend or family member go through that type of thing, you understand that a card just isn't enough, and if you can't be there, this is the next best thing," Mark Hellickson said.

--Jessica Musicar is a frequent contributor to the North County Times.
Contact her at gwyllion@aol.com.