I have been focusing my attention and energy on launching a new project. A couple of months ago, I shared an exchange with Shelly at The Accidental Runner. The words we exchanged touched me and I kept thinking, too bad these words will be hidden in the archives. The exchange I shared with Shelly was not unlike previous exchanges with Cancer Baby, Rae, Louise, and so many others (there are, unfortunately, entirely too many of us). While I know that the Internet has vast reaches, I know that there is a definite group this does not reach. I have been trying to find a way to take some of our (we folks who blog about our cancer experiences) our shared experiences and make it more permanent and reach a broader group as well.

I have read some amazing, honest, real, touching, inspiring, and heartbreaking words posted by the people I include as "Cancer Connections" at the sidebar on the left. I wanted to find a way to make those words travel on something more than the Internet. I wanted to capture it the old fashioned way - pen to paper. This new project does just that and more.

The new project is called Traveling Hope. Traveling Hope is a wandering journal project wherein bound journals are circulated to people who have been touched by cancer (patients, survivors, caretakers, family members, medical providers, etc.). As the journals are filled and returned, they will become part of a traveling exhibit to bring awareness to cancer. Additionally, it is my hope to compile the entries and have one bound journal published and distributed free of charge to cancer patients (I'm close to landing a sponsor too!).

If you are reading this, have experienced cancer yourself or through someone you love, I hope you will consider participating in this project. Visit the Traveling Hope site for more information on how to participate. Our shared experiences will light the way for others.