Survivor Project Update

New happenings on the Survivor Project.
First, I've created a brochure to help promote the project and am calling it "Portraits of Hope."

I found a list of support groups online. It wasn't up-to-date, but was accurate enough to get me in touch with the right people. I spoke with the coordinators for several groups. They were all thrilled with the project and eager to help. Most immediately thought of some people who would be great to include in the project, and now within less than two weeks, I've had several phone calls and emails from willing participants. I've only spoken briefly to a few of them, but their stories are inspiring and I'm eager to photograph them and to speak with them in person.

I'm still working on multiple options for the project. Most of the people I've spoken to the last week or so have been treated at OU, and that will facilitate getting the calendar project going. It seems a logical first step anyway, and I need to be photographing people for the calendar now so I can get the production work done and the calendar can be printed and available at least by August or early September.

Also, getting more portraits created will help add credibility to the project and hopefully get other area businesses on board to support the project and increase its effectiveness as a fundraiser, and hopefully get the display portion of the project rolling.

If you know of someone who is a cancer survivor who would be willing to participate, have them contact me. I'm a little hard to reach sometimes at my studio number, but they could call and leave a message, or leave a comment here, or use the contact form on my website.

If you would like to help financially with the project, either as an individual or business, please contact me. I'm looking for help in printing the calendars and in creating the display. Sponsors will be recognized in the calendar and on the display, and in any promotion or publicity for each, so businesses can count this toward their advertising budget.

Any funds raised beyond the actual cost of the project will be donated to cancer research. The calendar is being created on behalf of the Peggy & Charles Stephenson Cancer Center. Proceeds from the display will also benefit the Cancer Center, but if enough is raised, I would also like to split out part of it as a donation to the American Cancer Society.