The National Cancer Institute, (NCI) defines survivorship as covering the physical, psychosocial, and economic issues of cancer, from diagnosis until the end of life. It focuses on the health/life of a person with cancer beyond the diagnosis and treatment phases. The NCI recognizes family members, friends, and caregivers, as they play a key role in the survivorship experience, offering support, encouragement and celebration of cancer anniversaries.
Causes for Celebration, LLC (aka CFC), exclusive distributor of the ?Survivor Girl and SurThriver Girl ? greeting card lines, strongly agrees that support from family members, friends and caregivers extends far beyond the date treatments end, and that is why it was so important to add a new cartoon figure to the existing ?Survivor Girl? family. For many women, the word ?survivor? no longer seems appropriate once they?ve completed the treatment plan, and a majority of cancer survivors prefer now to use the word ?thriver? when describing life with cancer beyond the diagnosis and treatment phases. In 2007, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that about 1.1 million of survivors live with the diagnosis for more than 25 years, and 75.4% are female.
Spangler and her business partner, Golinske, are both cancer survivors, and provide great examples of females thriving beyond their diagnosis and treatment phases. Hence a new character was christened in the fall of 2010, and her new name is: SurThriver Girl ? The caricature has her own unique look, definition, trademarked name, wardrobe colors, and three newly designed greeting cards, (http://www.surthrivergirl.com ). Green and purple are the primary water colors always used for her outfits, green signifying new growth and purple renewed spirituality. SurThriver Girl ? is sassy with attitude, exuding confidence and a "celebrate everything" mentality. SurThriver Girl?s ? talented creator/cartoonist, Spangler, made sure she also tied the cartoon back to its creator, (business partner Susan Golinske), evidenced by a little whimsical dragonfly that accompanies each card design.
Though the two business partners live on opposite ends of the East Coast, (Michigan and Florida), they still manage to visit often and put their heads together about new ideas/future product lines for the company?s existing greeting card line. Spangler has already developed a male cancer cartoon figure, and is working on a child figure, knowing all too well that by the year 2025, it is predicted that over 50% of the U.S. population will be dealing with some form of cancer. CFC plans on introducing the newest male and child lines just prior to the May, 2012 Paper and Stationary Show in New York. Golinske states, ?We knew it is important to be more inclusive with our card line -- it isn?t just women who deal with this miserable disease. Unfortunately, cancer has no age, gender, economic or ethnic preference. We also know that it is not the only traumatic event that creates huge chaos or challenges in someone?s life, so where once we mainly focused on hospital gift shops/cancer support centers, we have expanded now into women?s specialty boutiques, art and stationary stores, general gift shops, etc., knowing that many of our drawings/ sayings are applicable to any situation in life where comfort, encouragement, support and celebration may be needed. ?
?Survivor Girl? reminds all women how truly brave and strong they can be, and ?SurThriver Girl ?? reminds them to look often for the many little reasons women have to celebrate the joys and victories of everyday life.
###
No comments:
Post a Comment