PORTLAND, Ore. -- A great Christmas gift that will truly “make a difference” is available in Portland’s Pearl District.

A holiday fundraiser for the Children’s Healing Art Project has just been unveiled inside a new condominium at NW 9th Avenue and Glisan.

This remarkable art is all made by children fighting for their lives in area hospitals. 

The most famous art student participating in the project was 10-year-old Austin Winters, who died from leukemia in September. 

Austin created Bacon Boy, a cartoon character complete with arch enemies like Fry Guy, a giant cast-iron frying pan. 

 More: Bacon Boy cartoon creator dies

The story of Bacon Boy and Fry Guy was Austin’s way of talking about his battle with cancer.

And somehow Austin made it funny.

Frank Etxaniz created the Children’s Healing Art Project, or CHAP, and formed a deep bond with Austin the moment they first met at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. 

Etxaniz secretly entered Bacon Boy in a national art contest and the Tacoma Museum of Glass chose to make a glass version of the superhero for permanent display at the museum.

“Something about Bacon Boy has inspired other children to fight pain through art. People want to be a part of it; it’s really fascinating. It looks like Bacon Boy could become an image for battling cancer,” Etxaniz said.

Nervous energy from sick children and their families is now being channeled into creative energy.

Link: ChildrensHealingArtProject

The artwork is for sale until Christmas and proceeds will fund the CHAPs program, which helps kids create art in hospitals throughout the Metro area. 

Space for the CHAPs Gallery was donated by the developer of the 937 Building in the Pearl. 

A workspace is also set up in the gallery allowing the public to bring kids and make art.

It will be open until Christmas Day.