"Ribbon Art From The Heart"

"It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving"
                                                                 ----Mother Teresa

We've all heard it said that virtually everyone is touched by cancer.  I do believe that is true.  In my own life, I have seen both of my parent’s lives ended by cancer, watched my son-in-law, Josh, battle colon cancer, seen numerous friends walk their cancer journeys, and of course experienced cancer first hand when I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1996.  I was reminded this year that cancer is experienced worldwide when a young friend of ours in Australia was diagnosed with it. 

Thankfully, I also know people working on the research end of cancer.  One of my friends is a world renowned cancer researcher at Georgetown University.  I’m happy to report that her cutting edge treatment is having great, clinical trial, success.  I’m also happy to report that my friend, Mike, is successfully battling esophageal cancer thanks to an amazing new treatment.  All in all, things have come a long way, Baby.  Progress is being made thanks to the people who are funding and to those performing the research.

One of the organizations I most respect is the American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org .  For 14 years I worked closely with them as a volunteer with their Reach to Recovery program, the most successful patient service program in their history.  I also did media (television and radio), and corporate speaking for them to raise awareness and educate others to topics related to cancer and health.  I know them to be trustworthy in the information they share, on top of the latest cancer developments, careful with how they allocate and distribute their contributions, AND one of the largest funders of cancer research in the United States.  They fund research for ALL kinds of cancers.

Recently I made a decision to try and do six amazing things, (one for each decade), before I turn sixty in January.  So far I have hand feed wild birds (yup it was amazing) and watched the sunrise over the tidal basin and cherry trees while eating a picnic breakfast with my family.  I have some other fun things in my mind, and one of the goals is to only do things that cost little or nothing and are amazing, so far, so good with that goal.  As I have thought about my six amazing experiences, I realized I wanted one of them to be some type of “give back” project.  I don’t want it to be all about me, because I don’t want my life to be all about me.  I kept waiting for some inspiration and just this week, it happened.  I figured out the perfect “give back” project

For quite a while I have thought about designing note cards using the pink ribbon prominently used to promote breast cancer awareness.  I have seen these designs in my head but not put them on paper.  Finally, just a few days ago, I made time to get the designs out of my mind and see them in front of me just as I had envisioned.  One is a vase made from the pink ribbon, holding a bouquet of pink flowers.  When I was walking through my cancer journey many times, just when I would hit a low spot, someone would deliver a beautiful bouquet to my door and it truly lifted my spirits.  That design reminds me of those moments. The second design is of a hand, wearing a pink ribbon survivor bracelet, and delivering a bouquet of flowers made from pink ribbons.  This picture reminds me of being a survivor and paying forward all the kindness shown to me during my journey..  As a Reach to Recovery volunteer, I visited and walked along side many newly diagnosed cancer patients; this drawing reminds me of those times.  The third design is of a butterfly, it is soaring upward.  This is a symbol of those who fought the battle and are now free of cancer, free to soar again.  I've been happily soaring for almost 18 years now!  Finally, there is a notecard bearing a crown set with three jewels, those jewels represent the three most important support systems I relied on during my cancer, my faith, my family, and my friends.  That picture reminds me of how blessed I am to have all three of those things in my life.

Now that the notecards are designed I’m ready to launch my “give back” project.  I have printed 200 sets of what I call “Ribbon Art From The Heart”.  They are $6.00 per set, and for every set I sell I will donate $1.00 to the American Cancer Society.  Although the art features the pink ribbon which figures prominently in my own journey, I am donating the money to the ACS because they fund ALL types of cancer and I have many friends battling many different types of cancer right now.  If you feel led to help me reach my goal of selling these 200 note cards, you may leave me a message on my personal Facebook page, my business Facebook page, BK Pen and Paint, or order directly from my website  www.bkpenandpaint.com  .  If you are local, ordering directly from me will save you the shipping. 

I have never undertaken a project like this (although I have donated to other projects) and it was a step of faith for me to order the 200 sets of note cards without knowing whether they would sell or not.  I will not be using this blog again to solicit donations of any kind, but I’m happy I could feature “Ribbon Art From The Heart” here, because I wanted my friends to share in the adventure.  For all who saw me through my cancer journey, thank you, I’m forever indebted.  For those who have fought and won the battle already, I’m thrilled for you.  For those who are currently in the midst of their cancer journey, I’m walking with you in prayer and here if you need a shoulder to lean on.  Walking forward, stepping out on faith with this third amazing experience, I’m half way through the year, and this project is half way through my six amazing experiences, so delighted to mark the halfway point by “giving back”!

Please feel free to share this blog and my website with your friends who might be interested in supporting the "Ribbon Art From The Heart" project.