When Sharon Morais heard that eight-year-old Wareham resident Hailey Pease had lost her battle with leukemia last July, she knew she had to do something.

"It just stuck with me all day," Morais, a mother of two young children, recalled.

Morais knew she could write a check in Hailey's memory and donate it to the charity her parents chose - Kids Kickin' Cancer - which had helped the family with expenses during Hailey's treatment. But she wanted to do more.

Morais decided to get the community together for a crocheting and knitting fundraiser. For $10, participants would spend the day creating hats for children to wear while undergoing chemotherapy.

The event - called Chemo Caps 4 Kids - would "help out in two ways instead of just one," she said.

The hats would be donated to local hospitals to help children feel comfortable during cancer treatment and the money raised through participation in the event and various raffles would be donated to Kids Kickin' Cancer.

Chemo Caps 4 Kids went off without a hitch on Sunday, September 25 at the soon-to-be-opened Onset Bay Wellness Center, located at 239 Onset Avenue in Onset.

The knitters were able to raise $500 for Kids Kickin' Cancer, created 25 caps, and donated five handmade quilts.

At the event, Kids Kickin' Cancer founder Debbie Bairos said she was grateful for the support of the nonprofit she and her husband formed last April after her son, Ethan, was diagnosed with leukemia.

"I'm just so happy that people in the community came out to help our foundation," said Bairos, who lives in Berkley. "Help us help families."

Ethan was diagnosed in January and is now in remission. However, he will need treatment until 2013.

"We had unbelievable amounts of support" after Ethan's diagnosis, Bairos said. Kids Kickin' Cancer is a way for her family to help other families.

"[Kids Kickin' Cancer] is a good thing that's come out of Ethan having leukemia," she said, noting that 99% of the time, one parent must stay home from work to care for their sick child all while paying for expensive trips to Boston for treatment and regular bills continue to add up.

"Not only has your child been diagnosed with cancer, but you're dealing with the finances," Bairos said.

Morais said she was thrilled with the support the fundraiser received and happy that the caps will give local children a bit of comfort during such a trying time.

Bairos, who has spent countless hours at hospitals both with Ethan and with families that Kids Kickin' Cancer supports, said the caps are always very appreciated.

"The kids love the caps," Bairos said. "Especially when they first lose their hair."

For more information about Kids Kickin' Cancer, including other ways to help the foundation, visit www.kidskickincancer.net.