Remembering Dad...Again

Today is the 10-year anniversary of my father's passing, he was 68 years old. Dad fought cancer for five years... he fought with dignity and honor. I feel lucky and blessed to have had him in my life for 43 years... just wish it had of been longer! I miss you, Dad!

Did You Know?

September is the awareness month for several different types of cancer:

• Childhood
• Leukemia
• Thyroid
• Prostate
• Ovarian
• Lymphomia

While researching this fact, I found a great website, "Choose Hope" which was started in 1999 by three ladies, Chris, Paula and Linda. They have all been touched by cancer and started the website to help raise money for cancer research...so far, they have raised over $300,000! Check out their website by clicking here.

Honoring John (Part 2)

If you’ve read this blog in the past, you know about John. He’s the special young man I wrote about in April who is battling brain cancer. John has been a huge inspiration to his family and friends, myself included, during his 3+ year battle. This past Saturday, over 50 of us showed our love and support to John by walking/running with him in the “Race for Research” sponsored by the Southeastern Brain Tumor Foundation. “John’s Dream Team” raised over $2,800 for brain cancer research with the entire race raising almost a quarter million dollars! John worked hard putting together his team and was “blown away” by the response... he says, “[it was] great to see everyone there [in the] bright yellow shirts that showed they were supporting me. You have no clue how awesome that made me feel.” Well, John, you are an awesome young man and I, for one, was extremely proud to walk with you and help this most worthwhile cause!

Send a Card / Support SBTF

Most everyone knows someone who has cancer. Send a “Hope” card to encourage them and, at the same time, give a donation to the Southeastern Brain Tumor Foundation. When you order one of our Hope cards, 100% of the commissions earned will be donated to SBTF for cancer research. Click on a card to order.


Inside verse: 
May God's love give you courage to fight, strength to endure, and hope for the future as you battle cancer.

Cancer Awareness Colors:
Pink = breast and alternate childhood cancer
Gray = brain
Blue = prostate, alternate colon , childhood cancer
Brown = colon/colorectal
Purple = pancreatic, testicular, thyroid,
    also the color for general cancer awareness

Remembering Dad

With Father’s Day approaching, I had an idea to write about my dad. The problem is, I’m not a “writer.” So, I kept asking myself, “where do I start?” The only answer I could ever come up with was... “I just don’t know... wait a couple of days and maybe the words will come.” Well, that hasn’t worked for me yet! I’ve waited a couple of days (and a couple more, and a couple more... you get the drift), and I still don’t know where to begin. So, I’ve decided to just start writing and see what happens. I was a “daddy’s girl,” at least that’s what my mom always said. I guess I can see that...we were a lot alike. Dad was a patient man, kind of quiet, but always friendly. He also had a bit of a stubborn streak... I’d like to think that I’m not stubborn, but there’s a few people that would probably disagree. He enjoyed photography, flying airplanes, and he loved to sing. He was good with his hands... he could figure out how to do most anything he set his mind to. But the thing I remember most about him was the strength and character he showed during his battle with cancer. My dad passed away on December 8, 2000, he was 68 years old. He fought cancer for five years. He fought with dignity and honor. It made me proud to watch how he treated his doctors and their staff whenever he had an appointment or was in the hospital. He was respectful, kind and always kept his sense of humor. It was apparent that he was liked and respected by them as well. Of course, he had his flaws, don’t we all? But, he was a good man, and I’m extremely proud to be his daughter! Happy Father’s Day, Dad... I miss you!

Do you know someone who is currently battling cancer? Send them one of the "Hope" cards below and 100% of commissions earned on the sale will be donated to cancer research! Click on a card to order.

Inside verse: 
May God's love give you courage to fight, strength to endure, and hope for the future as you battle cancer.

Cancer Awareness Colors:
Pink = breast and alternate childhood cancer
Gray = brain
Blue = prostate, alternate colon , childhood cancer
Brown = colon/colorectal
Purple = pancreatic, testicular, thyroid,
    also the color for general cancer awareness

Strands of Hope

Strands of Hope, founded by Atlanta teenager Sarah McCauley was featured on NBC 11 Alive December 14, 2009 during a segment of Presents with a Purpose. McCauley founded Strands of Hope as a means to raise money for brain tumor research after her uncle was diagnosed with a GBM. Sarah donates all of her proceeds from the sales of her handmade knit scarves, wraps and shawls to the Southeastern Brain Tumor Foundation and has raised almost $20,000 thus far. Click here to view the video

We're Celebrating!

We were so excited yesterday to receive notification that we sold 100 of our gray "Hope" cards! Many thanks to the center in Arizona who bought them. This brings our total "Hope" card sales up to 147 for 2010. Last year, we sold 356 and are really hoping to top that number this year, so we've still got some work to do! Please help us spread the word. And, if you have a friend or family member battling cancer, why not send them a message of "Hope"? 100% of commissions earned on the sale of these cards go directly to cancer research. To order, click on a card image below.

Brain Tumor Awareness Stamp

The United States House of Representatives established May as Brain Tumor Awareness Month in 2008. To bring national attention to this often underfunded disease, the National Brain Tumor Society has requested that the US Postal Service produce a stamp to increase brain tumor awareness. If you would like to join in petitioning the Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee to approve a brain tumor awareness stamp, please follow this link and sign the petition. Click here to sign petition

May - National Brain Cancer Awareness Month!

Honoring John

In late 2006, a very special young friend named John underwent surgery to remove a malignant brain tumor. He was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), a very aggressive form of cancer at 23 years of age.
In 2008, I began designing cards, along with another friend, and selling them on the internet under the name "Rycky Creations." Wanting to "do something" not only in John's honor, but also because I had lost my dad to a brain tumor, I designed a card called "Hope." The background of the card is done in gray, which is the color that represents brain cancer. My intent was to donate any commissions earned to cancer research. By the end of 2009, we had sold 356 Hope cards with 100% of the commissions going to the Southeastern Brain Tumor Foundation.

In 2009, I decided to expand our "Hope" card line to include several other "colors" of cancer (see color awareness colors below). Little did I know when I expanded the line that, in March 2010, I'd be sending my own mother the brown "Hope" card...

We now have five different "Hope" cards...

Cancer Awareness Colors:
Gray = brain
Pink = breast and alternate childhood cancer
Brown = colon/colorectal
Blue = prostate, alternate colon , childhood cancer
Purple = pancreatic, testicular, thyroid,
also the color for general cancer awareness

Hope for Cancer

Send "Hope" cards to family or friends who are in need of encouragement. 100% of commissions earned on the sale of these cards go directly to cancer research.