Sixteen-year-old Vasti Coss said designing a necktie was her way of getting back into the fight against cancer.
Coss suffers from chondrosarcoma, a form of bone cancer. The Waltham High student was diagnosed over three years ago. Her dad, Edward, said about a year and two months ago, Coss had a brain tumor removed at The Children's Hospital Boston.
Vasti is being treated at the Jimmy Fund Clinic, the pediatric unit at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.
To raise money for the Jimmy Fund, Coss created a necktie with colorful jewels and an '80s feel.
The ties were what I made while I was at the Dana-Farber (Cancer Institute). The tie looked like an '80s tie," she said. "I was thinking of the cartoons like Mickey Mouse and Goofy and I made the tie look like Goofy's ties."
Her tie, in addition to 14 other designs from children at the clinic, are available at Marshall's and TJ Maxx stores throughout New England, plus stores in Chicago, St. Louis and Dallas. Each necktie costs $12.99, with $1 of every purchase going directly to the Jimmy Fund. Organizers expect to raise at least $60,000.
"We've had a longstanding relationship with the TJX company...they've been supportive of the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk," said David Giagrando, director of corporate partnerships for the Jimmy Fund. "As a result of that relationship we were trying to come up with new and creative ways to help raise money for the Jimmy Fund."
Giagrando said Jimmy Fund officials have been working on this project for about four months.
"The kids got paper templates outlined in the shape of a tie, so they knew how much space they needed. Kids from all different ages from four and up were asked to draw whatever they wanted," he said. "Then working with TJX, their manufacturers used them for ties...they thought that they would be colorful, fun and evoke the spirit of the kids."
TJX spokesperson Laura McDowell said ties arrived in over 250 stores earlier this month.
"Customers are responding very well to the ties," she said. "People love to help out a great cause."
Jeff Gilbride can be reached at 781-398-8005 or at jgilbrid@cnc.com
