I have not written about grassroots cancer organizations outside of North America since Americans & Canadians (especially Canadians in my opinion) have a lot to offer as far as creative cancer projects go. I have a long list of things to write about like the “I’m Gonna Wear it” project, Kris Carr’s Crazy Sexy Cancer film and about Tamika Felder who is one of the coolest (like Aretha Franklin-cool) cancer survivors I have ever met. Today, however, I am putting that list aside for what I feel is a truly remarkable, awe-inspiring cancer story from the United Kingdom. The story is about Sarah Yates – tag name Sazzelli (more on the tag name later) and her fight against Leukemia.
At about age 18 Sarah was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and in her own words she knew that “life as I knew it would never be the same. I once identified myself with descriptors such as ‘graphic designer,’ ‘college student,’ and ‘daughter.’ Now I choose ‘leukemia survivor,’ ‘advocate,’ and ‘blessed.’ “. I am sure that most people reading this can identify with Sarah’s sentiments and would agree to a point that being diagnosed with cancer defines us all is one way or another. Sarah’s Cancer Diary is well documented with photos from the day she entered Christies Hospital in for treatment all the way through to her arrival home in a ‘whig & sunnys’ nearly 6 months later.
Besides being a cancer survivor, Sarah, rather, Sazzelli is a smoking hot graffiti artist. She’s just launched a new website called Fauna Graphic where you can check out all her fine work and goods.
Ah, it’s Spring Training time again and the Phillies look to pick up where they left off in 2007 when they reached the playoffs for the first time in 13 years… This is really a great time of year and the start of baseball season is a reminder of warm weather, wearing flip-flops to work and that Eagles training camp is only a couple of months away…
Fortunately, and in some cases unfortunately, it is also a reminder of some great baseball players who have both survived and lost their battle with cancer. There are far too many baseball players affected by cancer and baseball related creative cancer projects to mention and to keep your attention long enough for you to appreciate them so I will, as briefly as possible, tell you about three of my favorites. One for my home-town hero, one by my adopted home’s favorite baseball journalist and one for a project you probably never heard of and wish you had.
I was probably about eight years old when watching Tug McGraw on the mound during the sixth game of the 1980 World Series striking out K.C Royals Willie Wilson for the series win. To this day Tug’s leap off the mound is still fresh in my mind like it happened yesterday. I did not know the man personally, but from what I have read he was an all around good guy and regular ‘screwball’ on and off the field. When he died recently after a brave battle against brain cancer, I was truly heart-broken.
Today, the Tug McGraw Foundation lives on in his memory and is making waves in the fight against brain cancer. On May 8th 2007 the Tug McGraw Foundation in partnership with Schweiger Vineyards, Trifecta Wine unveiled their 45YGB Wine, a tribute to southpaw, Tug McGraw.
Unless you are from Boston you might not have ever heard of this obscure cancer project. Hot Stove, Cool Music is the brain child of Casey Riddles and Jeff Horrigan who happened to personally know legendary Boston Globe & ESPN Journalist and musician Peter Gammons. With the help of Peter, Casey & Jeff assembled an all-star Boston music scene cast including Bill Janovitz, Kay Hanley and even BoSox General manager Theo Epstein’s band to perform at the Paradise Rock Club during the accompanying silent auction. Long story short, Hot Stove Cool music has turned into a handful of concerts/silent auctions benefiting the Jimmy Fund which is also the official charity of the Boston Red Sox.
In 2002, multi-media-talented San Francisco based artist, Lee Walton painted 30 chairs pink to raise money for breast cancer. The project was called “PAINT THE Corner- Strike out Breast Cancer”. Funds raised by the auctioning of the chairs went to support SELF Magazine’s THINK PINK! Project, the Big Bam! Foundation and Major League Baseball. At the time, Self Magazine was also celebrating the 10th anniversary SELF’s 2002 Pink Ribbon Initiative. SELF Magazine created the Pink Ribbon in 1992 which is internationally recognized as the symbol for breast cancer awareness.
This has nothing to do with this Waiting Room or cancer but over at the Art Prostitute you can by this print by Evan Hecox & Cody Hudson from their Waiting Room Exhibition. We like art and I like Evan Hecox. Maybe if word get’s back to him that we are fans he’ll do a cancer print for Waiting Room Magazine…
Just to prove my love of art and Evan, here is a snapshot of your’s truely in from of two of his prints from the old Houston Gallery.
