CROWLEY, La. ( KLFY ) — Small businesses from all across Acadiana are helping 19-year-old Hayden Ruffner of Hayden’s Corner , the coffeeshop that benefits families of St. Jude Children’s Hospital patients. Ruffner has been a patient himself since he was 15 years old.

Nine small businesses in Acadiana set up booths with Hayden’s Corner. Their rent allows Hayden to maintain his goal of giving all the coffeeshop’s proceeds to other St. Jude families rather than the building’s rent and utilities.

Hayden’s sister Simone Dogie, co-owner of Louisiana Bath and Gift Co., said the business was a way for her and their mom, Nicole Hayes, to have an outlet when Hayden was diagnosed with osteosarcoma four years ago.

Hayden said he would sell their homemade candles and bath bombs on Facebook lives and around LSUE’s campus.

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Now, they opened a storefront in downtown Crowley to house Hayden’s Corner.

“We know the struggle of what it is like to have someone sick in your family and the main caregiver having to be away, who is also the main financial provider,” Dogie said. “So, to have such a community like Crowley to have rallied behind us for so long, we really look forward to being able to do that for other families.”

“I can’t think of a more deserving person other than Hayden to have such support,” Dogie said. “Being his sister, that just makes my heart so happy for him, because he truly deserves it.”

The support comes from Louisiana Gift and Bath Co., Roxie Ann’s, Tonya K. Designs, Petite Designs, Little Sunshine Boutique, Jewelry by Alani McGee, The Freshie Bestie, The Clay Cow and Katelyn Hebert.

Kelsey Duhon with Roxie Ann’s said knowing Hayden and helping families like his gives her work purpose.

“Knowing Hayden is a blessing in itself,” Duhon said. “He has a positive attitude all the time, which that’s a huge deal for me. He keeps me going with that, and his love for work and trying to help people. It’s amazing. He really inspires me.”

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