The battle against cancer, of course, is much more serious than a pillow fight. However, Gainesville area residents recently have been given the opportunity to arm children battling cancer with the weapon of choice for slumber parties or just great dreams.

ConKerr Cancer is a foundation that was started by Cindy Kerr, who began making colorful pillow cases for her son Ryan to use during his uncomfortable chemotherapy stays at Philadelphia-area hospitals. She soon began creating pillow cases for all of the juvenile cancer patients, which gave birth to the ConKerr Cancer organization.

More than 18,000 pillow cases later, her foundation delivers unique pillow cases to hospitals all over the United States through its mission — “A Case for Smiles- Helping children feel special while battling life changing illnesses.”

When Cindy Kerr appeared on the “Martha Stewart Show”?to receive the “Dreamers Into Doers” Award, Summerfield resident and cancer survivor Cherron Faulkner took notice. “Being a cancer survivor myself, I?thought it was a wonderful way that I could get involved in helping young people,” says Faulkner.

Faulkner contacted Kerr and spoke to her about coordinating a local effort to create the pillow cases. “We agreed that Shands was just the spot for this type of activity,” she says. “We received permission from Shands and, at the same time, Susan Crane, a nurse in the oncology unity, also was trying to get involved and she has helped out tremendously.”

Faulkner and a neighbor delivered the first batch of pillow cases to children at Shands Children’s Hospital just before Christmas 2007. “It was a marvelous experience,” she says. “As sick as the children are, it’s amazing at how their eyes just brighten up when you bring them a gift. Sometimes we let their brothers or sisters pick out a pillow case, too. The siblings really are going through a painful time, too, so it helps them feel a little better about things.”

Since starting at the end of 2007, the local coordinators for ConKerr Cancer have received more than 700 pillow cases to deliver to children patients at Shands. Faulkner says she also is interested in delivering them to other hospitals in Florida.

To recruit pillow case creators, Faulkner spoke to several local quilting groups and visited several quilt stores in the area. The group also accepts monetary donations or donations of materials for the pillow cases.

Locally, A-1 Sewing Machine & Vacuum Center, located at 2005 NW 43rd St. in the Millhopper shopping center in Gainesville, is a drop-off point. The store has helped the volunteers advertise their project, too.

Instructions on how to make the pillow cases and more information about ConKerr Cancer can be found at www.conkerrcancer.org.

To contact local coordinator Cherron Faulkner, call 307-1647 or send an e-mail to cherrconkerr@comcast.net.