ALBANY, N.Y. -- Halloween is often described as creepy and scary but at Albany Medical Center, it's the exact opposite. The hospital celebrated a bit early on Wednesday, with the goal of making children feel a bit more comfortable.

"She's a baby, so no baby wants to sit in bed all day. She wants to be busy and it gives her a chance to get out of her room," says Niki Olmstead, whose daughter is being treated for cancer.

Patients in the Children's Hospital got the chance to pick out a costume and decorate pumpkins. The party is hosted by Spirit Halloween's "Spirit of Children" program. To date, the program has raised more than $260,000 for Albany Med.

"Albany Med saved my own son's life with immediate brain surgery. For me to be able to have it be my job to make sure we give back to this child life department, to be able to help this hospital and the children that are here and to have been through what I have been through personally is, this is amazing," says Tara-Marie Coyne, the Spirit Halloween district manager.

You can help donate to Spirit of Children at your local Spirit Halloween store. They partner with children's hospitals across the country.