Not all Superheroes wear capes, Some wear Ears

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Not all Superheroes wear capes, Some wear Ears 〰️

Two women smiling and hugging, wearing cozy winter hats, one with a brown hat with a pom-pom and a badge, the other with a grey hat decorated with a red bow and a Mickey Mouse ear pattern, together indoors.
Young child smiling and holding a book titled 'Ears Over Fears' with a Mickey Mouse ears graphic on the cover, in a bright, cozy living room with furniture and decorations.
A woman standing on a hospital bed, wearing pajamas with Christmas reindeer print, a dark green t-shirt with white text, a fuzzy hat with mouse ears and a bow, sunglasses, and a headband with a cherry and leaf. She is holding a wooden stick over her shoulder and posing with a confident stance.
A young girl wearing a purple jacket and pink sweater, smiling at the camera. She has a decorative headband with blue circles, buttons, rhinestones, a cartoon cat sticker, and a white bow. The background shows other people in winter clothing under a tent.
Woman wearing Christmas hat with reindeer antlers, black sweater, and red pants, standing next to a cart filled with wrapped gifts and decorations in a room with wooden flooring and a mirror on the wall.
Woman smiling on a dock near the water, wearing a black lace top, a ribbon pin, and a colorful Mickey Mouse ears headband.

Jess Beard’s Ears Over Fears children’s program is a fun craft activity where kids get to design their own ears. They can pick from a selection of colored headbands and ears and then assemble and decorate them using stickers, markers, gems, feathers, and other colorful items.

While Respite Retreats programs are typically designed to take the participant’s mind off everyday life with cancer, this program gives parents & healthcare practitioners an opportunity to get children to open up about their fears and address them head-on.

We understand that the siblings and children of those with cancer have fears as well, so Respite Retreats offers Ears Over Fears kits to them too.

Ears are worn as a reminder that they are stronger than their fears!

This program is held in hospitals, during events, and mailed to pediatric cancer patients, their siblings, and children of those with cancer. To have a kit sent to a child you know please complete the intake form below.

Two women smiling and posing for a photo indoors. The woman on the left is wearing sunglasses, a headband with colorful monster decorations, and a gray t-shirt with holiday-themed text. The woman on the right is wearing glasses and a black t-shirt with a message supporting cancer awareness, featuring a pink and teal ribbon. There is a hospital monitor in the background.

Jess Beard- Ears Over Fears Founder’s Story

Ears Over Fears was born in 2019 when Jess Beard, a 28-year-young metastatic breast cancer fighter, visited Walt Disney World. The “Happiest Place on Earth” definitely worked its magic on Jess. She rocked her Nightmare Before Christmas “Sally” ears from her wheelchair as she and her husband, Jon, enjoyed the best vacation – one that took their minds off cancer. Jess decided that she’d bring this joy home with her by wearing different sets of “ears” to her chemotherapy treatments. They reminded her that she is stronger than her fears and that there is always magic in life. 

Jess created Ears over Fears to share this magic. The program was created to give parents the opportunity to have open discussions about their children’s fears surrounding cancer. Creating their personalized ears is a fun activity and they can wear them as a reminder that they too are stronger than their fears.  

Jess’s friends and family hosted Jess Fest, an event to raise awareness about metastatic breast cancer and raise funds to help offset the expenses a cancer diagnosis brings. The day was filled with fun activities that included making ears for Jess to wear throughout her treatments. Jess named the activity Ears Over Fears. In honor of her, we have incorporated this into Respite Retreats programs. 

Smiling young girl wearing orange Mickey Mouse ears decorated with colorful pins and a big blue bow, posing indoors in a living room.
Girl with curly hair wearing a yellow bow and large blue Mickey Mouse ears headband decorated with jungle animals and yellow buttons.
A woman and a young boy sit at a table with a gift box and a sheet of paper. The woman is showing the boy a colorful, unicorn-shaped item, possibly a toy or dessert, and they are engaged in a shared activity, likely during a celebration.
A woman wearing sunglasses and a fun glittery headband is lying in a hospital bed, smiling. She is connected to medical IV pumps, indicating she is undergoing treatment or medical procedure.
A woman lying in a hospital bed wearing rainbow-colored sequined Mickey Mouse ears, smiling at the camera, with a tie-dye shirt and a white blanket.
Pink princess-themed headband with Disney princess and glittery decorations, and a paper swan on top, on a dark surface.

Support Ears Over Fears

To support this impactful program, please visit our AmazonSmile wish list or make a tax-deductible donation below. We appreciate your kindness!

Donate to Ears Over Fears
Wish List
Person standing in a hospital room wearing a hockey jersey with the word 'COURAGE' and the number 4 on the back, and a black beanie with bear ears. The person is facing away from the camera, with arms raised and fists clenched.
A young girl wearing a headband with purple unicorn and rainbow decorations, smiling at the camera.
A young girl and a woman smiling for a photo at a Christmas celebration. The girl is wearing pink shirt, a necklace, and reindeer antlers headband, with a bandage on her wrist. The woman has a close-cropped hairstyle, is smiling broadly, and wearing a black shirt with a graphic, and a dark sweater. The background is decorated with holiday-themed wrapping paper and Christmas ornaments.

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