Having a child in the hospital is one of the worst things a parent can imagine. It can be especially tough around the holidays, when it seems like everyone else is celebrating and joyful. To address this, Ohio State alumnus and Cincinnati Bengals lineman A.J. Hawk and his wife Laura wanted to do something special for pediatric oncology patients at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center — James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute. The Hawks hosted an event for the kids, their siblings and their parents, called Ho Ho Ho with the Hawks, where they brought in presents for the children and their siblings. “AJ and I just have a heart for kids and we cannot imagine having to have our child undergo treatment, especially through the holidays,” Laura Hawk said. “So we wanted to host something that took all their minds off that and onto the excitement of the holidays!” Santa stopped by to greet the families, and the kids were offered a distraction for a few hours in the spirit of the holidays. The kids had some time for arts and crafts, visiting with the Hawks and Santa, and pizza donated by Donato’s. Ho Ho Ho with the Hawks is just one of the initiatives the Hawks started to give back to children. The Hawks also established an organization called Hawk’s Locks for Kids, in which they raise money and collect donated hair for children who have lost theirs due to chemotherapy and other cancer treatments. That all began when AJ Hawk cut his famously long hair for the same cause. From there, the Hawks’ contributions expanded to include Hawk’s Heroes, which donates capes and hats to children being treated for cancer, allowing them to feel like superheroes. For more information on the Hawk family’s contributions to kids with cancer, visit hawkslocksforkids.org.