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11-year-old Alpharetta native gifts bald American Girl Dolls to cancer patients

A very sad time in her life inspired her to create a very precious business.

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Bella Fricker is an 11-year-old entrepreneur from Alpharetta, and she's in the business of making other children smile.

“We never thought it would get this big,” she said with a big smile on her face.

Fricker started her business, Peace Love and Bracelets, more than a year and a half ago.

“I let her do her thing,” mentioned Valerie Fricker, Bella’s mom.“I went upstairs in her room and she had opened up the table and started making bracelets and said can I start a business mom? Can you sell these on Facebook to your friends?”

READ: Florida woman batting cancer for seventh time sews chemo caps for others

Bella used the profits to fund her love for American Girl Dolls, but it quickly turned into much more. The fifth grader used her money to buy dolls with no hair and gift them to cancer patients. 

Credit: Valerie Fricker
Bella Fricker pictured with bald American Girl Doll

“I got on Facebook and within 4 hours we made over $300 and was able to buy 3 dolls,” Valerie explained. She told 11Alive that she was inspired to do this after her good friend’s sister passed away from neuroblastoma.

“It made me feel happy making someone else feel happy going through a lot, and I love the smile on their faces and then they gave me a hug after,” Bella explained.

ALSO: Even after insurance, Washington family faces $96K medical bill

She even got a special shout out from Ellen DeGeneres on her talk show. Fast forward, Bella has since bought and given out 38 bald American Girl Dolls.

“We got a lot of orders,” she said.

Bella has traveled to Atlanta, Houston, Texas, Memphis, Tennessee to deliver dolls.

“It’s a sad situation, but we are trying to bring happiness to these children and what they are going through,” Valerie said.

Bella and her mom are organizing a fundraising event in the fall. The young entrepreneurs goal is to eventually meet Ellen.

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