World-renowned artist Susan Rios is donating her time and artwork to a worthy cause: Breast Cancer. Her piece, called 'Feel the Hope', will be signed and sold at $49, with 100% of the profits going to breast cancer. Rios says that the painting was named by her former husband, who himself is battling cancer and is not expected to survive. The artwork and its title are meant to offer hope to those battling cancer.

Rios is a well-know painter whose work adorns the walls for the White House, as well the homes of many celebrities. I think it's great that she is offering some of her talent to the ongoing battle.

After several weeks of hiding and down time, a few weeks ago I made an official announcement to the non profit organization that I founded Indie Music For Life and its two entities Laughs For Life and Indiegrrl. I dropped off of this blog page for a month and am ready to write again. I needed a break. A break to sort through things. To sort through life.

When you or a loved one are diagnosed with cancer it changes your life. Finding out you have cancer takes your breath away and from that point your breath is the most valuable thing to you in your life. Breath and time. Nothing is normal any more. Not your dreams, your nightmares, and not your waking moments.

A personal diagnosis of chronic myloid leukemia in February sent me into a whirlwind of emotions. At that point, all the fear, terror, and stomach knots from my past rounds of cancer came back. Nobody free of cancer could ever appreciate how utterly devastating the news of contracting it could be and the news that it has returned is even more devastating because you know what uphill climbs you must make again. Once you have been diagnosed with cancer you always look over your shoulder for the beast to return. He has caught up with me several times now and so I am speeding up in my race trying to see who is the best long distance runner. Every ache you feel or every little un-ordinary thing that happens with your body sends you into " What If " mode. It is extremely hard living in that mode of thinking but you can't avoid it.

My past struggles with cancer were very private. But then I was not the head of a non profit organization that raises money for cancer research and educational awareness on the powers of music and laughter as therapy for cancer patients. I wasn't the head of the largest networking group of female songwriters known as Indiegrrl that has since become a part of Indie Music for Life. Laughs For Life had not even been thought of yet and now with the direction and help of good friend and comedian Shelly Ryan it is now a reality. I hadn't even started my music career. Having cancer is what lead me to pursue my career in music and chase my dreams. It wasn't until I started working on my CDs that my cancer became really public other than with my close friends and family and then working to set up the Indie Music For Life non profit put it out there even more.

Not all London traders are signing on to pose nude for a calendar to benefit the KatCanDo charity. While reported not to be a shy and retiring group, an unnamed trader is quoted as saying he will not be publicly stripping down to the nude for a calendar. "I think I give the world enough amusement without taking my clothes off."

In 2004, the KatCanDo charity was founded by Kate Coles, who was diagnosed with colon cancer three years ago and passed away this last March. Her husband Stephen Coles assures everyone that this is a serious project that will be done with the utmost taste. Each person appearing in the calendar will be discreetly covered in all the right places.

The KatCanDo has published two other calendars, the 2005 calendar, Doctors Uncovered, and a 2006 calendar featuring drawings by children who have been treated for cancer and leukemia.

In addition, they have hosted a Charity Ball; they had runners in the Reading half-marathon and the London Marathon and five runners completed the Great North Run for the charity. KatCanDo has been chosen as the Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Ltd Sports and Social Clubs Nominated Charity for the next year and they have been chosen as the British and Commonwealth Women's Club of Brussels British Charity for 2006. The efforts of the charity has assisted local cancer patients in a number of ways. For more information on the charity, visit KatCanDo -- and if you are a trader in London -- they still have a few open months left in the upcoming calendar.

A reader left a comment the other day on the Cancer Blog post death by cancer dims outlook of promise, hope, survival. It was positive and supportive and inspiring -- and sad too. The reader shared that her mother passed away in February after a year-long battle with gallbladder cancer. She wrote that her mother handled her diagnosis, chemotherapy, transfusions, medications -- and her final days -- with true grace. And this is a big deal. Because there is not much information floating around on the topic of this cancer. So this woman didn't have much to cling to. Like I do. As a breast cancer survivor, I have mounds of resources at my disposal. I have books and magazines and websites and blogs that devote generous coverage to breast cancer. There are walks and runs and yard sales and fashion shows and other fundraisers that make breast cancer survivors the lucky recipients of extensive research and study. I see pink ribbons all over town and license plates on the roads and clothing and hats and even tennis shoes that promote breast cancer awareness. I could go on -- and on and on.

Gallbladder cancer is rare. So perhaps that's why there is not an abundance of information on the disease that has no known cause or test to detect its presence in the body. The American Cancer Society estimates that about 8,750 new cases of gallbladder cancer and bile duct cancer (excluding bile ducts within the liver) will be diagnosed in 2006 in the United States. And about 3,260 people will die of these cancers in 2006. Of these new cases and deaths, about half are due to gallbladder cancer, which affects predominantly women and those who are older than 65. Diagnosis of this cancer is difficult because symptoms do not often surface until the late stages when aggressive treatment becomes necessary. Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy are typical treatment tools, along with palliative therapy to help control or reduce symptoms. There are also drugs currently under study in the areas of both targeted therapy and immunotherapy.

It's good to know that gallbladder cancer is rare -- and that it takes far fewer lives than breast cancer and other diseases -- but for the unfortunate ones who are diagnosed with this life-threatening illness, the lack of information and resources is a truly an unfortunate side effect.

In 1999, Art beCAUSE, a non-profit organization was founded by two best friends, breast cancer survivor Eleanor F. Anbinder and art gallery owner Joyce Crieger. Anbinder had been diagnosed with breast cancer and over the years of her cancer survivorship she had watched other women die from the disease.

When Anbinder was diagnosed, she did not have a family history of breast cancer. In becoming active with Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition, she began to wonder what was causing the increased rates of breast cancer diagnosis.

With her best friend, Joyce Creiger owner of Creiger Dane Gallery on Newbury Street, the two decided to use a percentage of the profits from art sold in the gallery to fund research to look into the environmental causes of breast cancer. Art beCAUSE supports three organizations: The National Breast Cancer Coalition, Silent Spring and Seed the Scientist. You can visit Art beCAUSE on the web to learn more about the organization's events and activities.

SpeedFreaks, the country's largest motorsports radio show, has joined the America's Baby Cancer Foundation (ABCF) to raise awareness for childhood cancers. Kenny Sargent and Lugg Nuttz, hosts from the SpeedFreaks radio and television programs, have been elected to ABCF's board of directors.

The ABCF will benefit from the media exposure SpeedFreaks can provide, and according to the SpeedFreaks hosts, they have finally found a cause they feel they can "really grab a hold of and make a difference." ABCF is not new to Nuttz, who began supporting ABCF three years ago and as part of his involvement, helped establish a program at Irwindale Speedway that provides ABCF families with tickets for Saturday night races.

Backstretch Motorsports quotes Nuttz as saying, "You talk about a wake up call, baby cancer will affect over 11,000 children under the age of 15 this year. If that wasn't enough, childhood cancer rates are increasing at a rate of approximately 1 percent each year."

In 2000, the ABCF was founded as Sebastian's Baby Cancer Foundation. Started by Bernard and Antonia Hicks, following the loss of their child, Sebastian Hicks, at the age of nineteen months to cancer -- they provide a resource library, information and help for other parents with infants and children diagnosed with cancer. SpeedFreaks, with Kenny Sargent, Lugg Nuttz, Statt Mann Caruthers and Crash Gladys, began in 2000, as a result of Sargent's frustration with motorsports coverage. SpeedFreaks bills itself as a lethal combination of motorsports commentary and entertainment.

Fashion designer Betsey Johnson is the definition of original. As colorful and spirited as her fashion designs and clothing stores, at 63, she embraces life with equal creative enthusiasm. A journalist is quoted as once saying, "If Betsey Johnson didn't exist, we would have to invent her. She's the original wild child set to paint the town pink!"

In 1999, Betsey was diagnosed with breast cancer. After surgery and 33 radiation treatments, she became a breast cancer advocate involved in fundraising events and creating one-of-a-kind items that have been auctioned off to raise money for breast cancer charity. She has been an Honorary Chairperson for the Fashion Targets Breast Cancer initiative and was honored with an award by the National Breast Cancer Coalition for her contributions and work as a breast cancer advocate.

Two years ago, she designed a special tee for the book written by Geralyn Lucas, Why I Wore Lipstick to my Mastectomy. Both the book and tee were part of the Courage Night campaign launched through the chain of Betsey Johnson stores.

To find out what's new and what Betsey is up to next, visit the Betsey Johnson website.

Internationally-known celebrity tattoo artist Mario Barth of Starlight Tattoo has announced a $1 million dollar challenge to local businesses and people in the northern New Jersey community to help raise money to benefit the CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation for childhood cancers.

The Starlight Tattoo website has published statistics that in the last 20 years, the incidence of childhood cancer has grown nearly 27 percent, and scientists and researchers have been unable to account for the increase, or even why cancer in children occur. Barth, who is a father, says "Children are our future. We need to take care of them and nurture them, and show every child of every means that people really do care. Childhood should be a time of learning and fun, not pain and struggle. Every little bit helps."

Barth is a tattoo artist to celebrities including Lenny Kravitz, Jason Kid, members of the Wu Tang Clan, Nikki Six of Motley Crue, members of My Chemical Romance, members of Il Nino, radio host Wendy Williams, comedian Rich Voss and NFL Giants players Jermaine Taylor, Kendrick Allen and David Diehl.

The winner of over 200 international awards for innovative trends, Barth is a consultant and practitioner for Hackensack Cosmetic Surgeons for reconstructive micro pigmentation on cancer patients. He invented and created a series of special inks for use in reconstructive surgery to help patients adjust with a more natural dermal appearance after major operations. To learn more about Barth and Starlight Tattoo, and how to donate to a worthy cause in fighting childhood cancers, visit the Starlight Tattoo website.

Cancer ... it's kind of a big deal. That is the tagline for the Cross Country for Cancer blog. In a benefit to raise awareness and funds for cancer research at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center of Johns Hopkins University and for the American Cancer Society, six international college students are spending 45 days of summer cycling across America. The Cross Country for Cancer cycling team, who began their 4,000 mile journey in San Francisco, California, 13 days ago, plan to finish in Baltimore, Maryland.

Cross Country for Cancer is blogging the daily challenges and adventures of the cycling journey across America where this group of college students -- John Lian of Amherst; Ezra Pierce of Oxford; Jacob Pierce of UC Santa Barbara; Patrick Garfjeld Roberts of Oxford; Max Capener of Oxford; and David Lauterbach of Wheaton -- basically came up with a big idea and without any self-admittedly realistic sense of what is possible, simply agreed to go for it.

This summer, Dorothy Perkins is introducing a limited edition and exclusive line of fashion tees artistically designed by celebrities Nicole Kidman, Sharon Osbourne, Sienna Miller, Charlotte Church and Denise Van Outen to benefit Breast Cancer Care. The specialty tees, retailing at £15, go on sale Monday July 10th at the Dorothy Perkins website and in their 600 UK stores. £5 of each tee sale will go to Breast Cancer Care. Last year, Dorothy Perkins raised  over £1.3 million, through the pink wristband campaign in support of the breast cancer charity.

Nicole Kidman was only a girl when her mother battled breast cancer. Kidman chose her design because it represents the power and importance of support, comfort and care. Both family members and friends of Sharon Osborne have been diagnosed with breast cancer, and she chose her design using the symbol of a cross and heart to represent Hope, Peace and Love. Sienna Miller chose a quote that inspires. Denise Van Outen lost her grandmother to breast cancer last year and chose the rollerskate as her design because it reminds her of her childhood visits with her grandmother.

There are 50,000 tees for sale. I doubt they will last long. If you are interested, visit Breast Cancer Care Dorothy Perkins Little Tees for more information.

Breakthrough Breast Cancer, UK's leading charity committed to fighting breast cancer through research and education, has hands down and without argument, some of the best fundraising campaigns around. They are fun and innovative and trendy. In a recently announced fundraiser, they are inviting gardeners with a "passion for digging, sowing and cultivating their gardens" to host a garden party for friends to raise money for cancer charity -- or to sell cuttings from the garden and donate the proceeds to cancer charity.

According to Breakthrough, Linda Clegg from Keighley, West Yorkshire has been using her garden to raise money for Breakthrough since 2000, she says: "When my friend Norma called to say she had been diagnosed with breast cancer it was a huge shock. She really impressed me when she told me months later, that she had become a £1,000 Challenger. Little did I guess that I too would be diagnosed with breast cancer and subsequently have been bitten by the bug to raise funds for Breakthrough's research."

"It was difficult during my six months of chemotherapy, but my husband was a tower of strength through it all. When I look back now some very positive things to came out of that dreadful time."

Now in its 15th year, Breakthrough's £1,000 Challenge is the charity's longest-running, fundraising campaign. Once a fundraiser reaches the £1,000 target, Challengers can honor someone they love by having their name permanently displayed on the £1,000 Challengers' Wall, at the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Centre. Over 5,000 supporters have become Challengers so far, and to date have raised over £12 million.

The Breakthrough Breast Cancer green-fingered gardening challenge certainly isn't the only fundraiser they have launched. To find out more, go here. Not only can you sign up to participate in existing fundraisers, it's quite possible learning about what people are doing to raise money for cancer research and services will inspire you to original ideas of your own.

I am not a huge sports fan. But just about everyone in my family is. So I have absorbed quite a bit of knowledge about sports -- and primarily college basketball -- because all sorts of facts and stats and stories float around at family gatherings. I don't pay much attention but I guess it soaks in anyway -- because there have been times when I have rattled off information that shocks even the most fanatical of family members.

But something about basketball has actually peaked my interest and has caused me to look and listen a bit more closely. It's called Coaches vs. Cancer®. Coaches vs. Cancer teams up the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches in the fight against cancer. Basketball coaches from all over participate in a variety of events and activities and fundraisers -- and they hope to emerge victorious over a disease that is claiming too many lives. Many hours and much effort go into the game plan for beating cancer.  There is the Basket Ball -- a black tie affair that features a night of dancing, dinner, celebrity appearances and an auction -- and golf tournaments and tip-off breakfasts and even regular season games where funds are raised to benefit the cause. The program has raised more than $25 million since it first started in 1993 and the match-up is still going strong. Now this is something I can cheer about.

Of the cancer charity fundraisers, Australia's Biggest Morning Tea is the most charming -- and one of the most successful. Last year, Australia's Biggest Morning Tea raised $7.2 million dollars Australia-wide for Cancer Council Australia. The event also made it into the Guinness Book of Records for the World's Largest Simultaneous Tea Party.

Officially, the date of the tea is May 25, but it can be held any day during the month of May. According to the organizers, people in workplaces, homes, schools and community groups in towns and cities across Australia participate in Australia's Biggest Morning Tea. It's easy to participate. You simply contact the organization, state your interest in holding a tea, submit your contact information, and they send you a packet of information and a kit to get you set up to host a tea. The tea can be hosted anywhere. In your home, at your place of work, in the park, at the beach.

The Cancer Council is Australia's national non-government cancer control organization. The  organization offers patient support, works to improve treatments, acts as an advocate for cancer patients, provides information and funds research. As Australia's Biggest Morning Tea says about the tea time event, "Everyone loves a break: the chance to spend time with family, friends or colleagues. Once a year, having a break also helps in the fight against a disease that affects 1 in 3 Australians: Cancer." The idea of a tea just brings a smile.

In 1998, Barenaked Ladies keyboardist and guitarist Kevin Hearn started to have pains and experienced rapid weight loss. At the time, the band was working on their next studio album Stunt. As soon as it was finished, Hearn went in for a medical checkup and was diagnosed with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia. While Hearn underwent a bone marrow transplant, the band was forced to go on without him on tour to promote the new album. Cancer treatments and transplant required that Hearn spend time in an isolation room. During that time, he began writing what became the album H-Wing, named after the hospital wing, H-Wing of the Princess Margaret Hospital, where he spent so much of his time fighting cancer. Reviewers describe this album as, "a testament to the strength of the human spirit, transcending desperate situations, and dealing with one's mortality. The songs are filled with hope, fear, love, confusion, gratitude, sadness, and perhaps most importantly, a sense of humor."

Today, Hearn is cancer-free and back with Barenaked Ladies. Hearn has moved on but has not forgotten the cancer research and cancer community that made it possible for his life today. He is the honorary spokesperson for the Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control. Hearn and Barenaked Ladies band members play charity shows and participate in cancer fundraisers. In addition to touring and recording music with both Barenaked Ladies, and his solo band from H-Wing, Thin Buckle, he has been composing music for Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are, a children's television show. In the heart of a cancer survivor is profound gratitude -- for all the little discoveries that were made, and for all the people who worked diligently to make them -- that led to the better treatments, that allowed for another day of life. Giving back is a given.

A fatal crash in Martinez, Georgia, involving 10 motorcycles and a car marred an otherwise jubilant Relay for Life event on Saturday night. The fund raiser, part of a national effort to raise money for breast cancer, involves an all night relay in which teams walk or run laps to help raise awareness and education for breast cancer and for the American Cancer Society. The coroner has not released the name of the male motorcyclist who was killed during the event. The female driver of the car was not injured. Relay for Life is a wonderful event and brings much peace to the participants. As the teams walk or run throughout the night, friends and loved ones are remembered and celebrated. To read more, click here for additional information.