Bakersfield teen Madison Ridley, 16, has taken time out of her busy schedule as a high school student to start Maddie’s Messages, a charity group in which Ridley herself makes blankets for cancer patients.

“I have had a multitude of family members and friends who have had or currently have cancer,” Ridley said. “Both of my grandmothers had cancer. One lost her fight with lung cancer, while the other one beat her battle with breast cancer. My grandfather also won his fight with colon cancer a few years back.”

Ridley stated that she was inspired to start Maddie’s Messages at the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership conference last summer.

She remembered watching her grandmother go through the stages of chemotherapy for her breast cancer, which involved being very cold, even if it was warm outside. During one of her chemo treatments, her grandmother received a fleece blanket and was so happy to have received one. So when HOBY asked Ridley what she wanted to do to give back to the community, she immediately remembered how happy her grandmother was to receive her blanket. Ridley then decided that making blankets for cancer patients was what she wanted to do.

“I also wanted to give words of inspiration and hope to those receiving the blankets, and that is where I got the name ‘Maddie’s Messages.’” Ridley said.

Ridley’s mother, Tiffani Alvidrez, 45, a counselor at Bakersfield High School where Ridley attends as a junior, claimed that she was nervous for a split second after hearing what Ridley wanted to do.

Alvidrez stated that Ridley was just getting in the car after finishing her leadership seminar at HOBY when she expressed to her mother that she wanted to start a “charity for chemo patients where I make them blankets.”

“I thought to myself, ‘That’s a huge undertaking and definitely not cheap!’” said Alvidrez, ”I was worried about how much it would cost to start things up but then the proud feeling set in and I thought it really didn’t matter how much it cost moneywise and time wise. Maddie wanted to make a difference and that’s all that matters. She has a very big heart.”

At first, Ridley was only making them for delivery to cancer treatment facilities, especially the one where her grandmother was treated.

“I started her Facebook page, ‘Maddie’s Messages’, to let people know that there are kids out there making difference and thinking beyond themselves,” Alvidrez expressed,

“Due to her page, we started getting requests from people for blankets for people who had other ailments that required extensive treatment: severe rheumatoid arthritis, pediatric burns, lupus, etc. She’ll make a blanket for just about anyone who asks that is in need.”

They started out as blankets for cancer patients, but Ridley received other requests for people who have serious illnesses or conditions.

“I have made blankets for people with diabetes, heart conditions, and kids who are in the pediatric burn center,” Ridley explained.

Ridley began her campaign in June of 2014 with the help of her surviving grandmother and her mother.

“We had to wait for my mom to return from a trip to Oregon so she could show us how to make the blankets,” Alvidrez stated, “She has been sewing for over 50 years so her input was vital.”

To date, Ridley has made nearly 100 blankets.

Although Ridley is unable to personally give the blankets to the patients when she drops the blankets off, she did run into a woman who was just leaving her chemotherapy treatment carrying one of Ridley’s blankets with her. The woman immediately recognized Ridley and her grandmother and ran up to them both and thanked them.

“She told me with tears in her eyes, how much she loved her blanket and how it keeps her warm during her treatments,” said Ridley “That was probably the most impactful thing that I have ever witnessed, and it made me realize how much the blankets affect the patients.”

“Maddie has always had a big heart and has been aware of people’s struggles. She has wanted to do things to help others but didn’t have a clear direction beyond Linkcrew at BHS,” Alvidrez stated “When my mom fought breast cancer, it was tough sitting by knowing there was little we could do to ease her pain. This is almost like Maddie’s way of a little bit of control over that helpless feeling we had. It isn’t much, but she likes letting others know [that] she cares about them.”

Ridley has received pictures of people who were specially requested to receive a blanket giving their thanks while wearing the blanket. She has also received “thank you” letters in the mail.

Among the success of Maddie’s Messages, Ridley has received the President’s Volunteer Service Award and was honored to be an American Red Cross Real Youth Hero for Kern County. Rotary of North Bakersfield also presented her with the Paul Harris award.

“I honestly am hoping to give at least 200 total blankets to patients in the future,” Ridley explained “I also want to inspire other teenagers to get more involved in the community to show that my generation isn’t just about teenagers who like to get drunk and use drugs, but [to show] that we are the future leaders of this country and world in the future.”

“Maddie is an old soul,” gushed Alvidrez “She has always been wise, but could be very silly when she wants to. She has never been caught up in doing what the crowd does. She has all sorts of friends, but her academics and extra-curricular activities come before anything else. She has more focus on her future and how to get to her goals than the average bear.”

After high school, Ridley plans on attending a four-year university in close proximity, either CSUB or Cal-Poly Pomona, in which she will be studying chemical and petroleum engineering.

“As far as Maddie’s Messages is concerned, I believe she will try to pass the torch to younger kids at BHS so they can keep the blankets coming,” Alvidrez stated “I don’t see her losing her focus on it any time soon. If she remains at CSUB, she will probably keep it going from home. She started the campaign out of love, and I don’t think she’ll let it fade away.”

Ridley stated that her goal for the future is to finish her college degree.

“We’re just very proud of all the sacrifices Maddie has made to keep her academics, mostly AP and Honors classes with A’s, her extra-curricular responsibilities, swim team, robotics club, and band, and blanket making balanced. She is one of a kind.”