To all of our Supporters and Sponsors:
The Cancer Monument® began in May 2000 with a clear mission: To celebrate and honor the heroes in
the war on cancer whether living or deceased, cured, still battling or in remission and to also educate
the public about cancer. Our efforts to promote this cause have been substantial and well-documented
in the media, particularly in Dallas, Texas. Our Honoree Name Gathering initiative unofficially began
in 2001 and then culminated to an official campaign in 2004 when our agreement with the City of Allen
was signed and became effective. Since 2004 our efforts to gather 60,000 Honoree names have been
widespread and have included thousands of volunteer hours, numerous public events, local and national
magazine, radio and television advertising and awareness promotions. Additionally, our organization’s
own programs and services to promote our mission have included syndicated award-winning radio and
television programming, which has aired since 2005 to audiences of over a million people every week,
and also educational books; Web-based learning; social support, on-line and phone; blood and marrow
drives; public speaking, and widespread community involvement on a variety of cancer related health
topics.
Our 5-year capital campaign to build The Cancer Monument® at Allen Station Park, Allen, Texas, is
set to conclude in 2009 along with our agreement with the City of Allen, which allocates a parcel of
park land for its construction, contingent upon a completed capital campaign. We have been
wholeheartedly grateful for your shared vision, support and patience to make The Cancer Monument
possible. However, the significant efforts of The Cancer Monument Incorporated, its numerous
volunteers and supporters have achieved only 386 Honoree inscriptions. We share your sadness about
this fact; however, it has become evident that public support is not forthcoming. It is with
tremendous regret that we accept that our goal of 60,000 inscriptions, which would have funded the
monument’s construction, will not be obtained in the timeframe needed. To honor the 386 Cancer Heroes
that our efforts did obtain we have created The Cancer Hero Walk of Hope.
The Cancer Hero Walk of HopeTM
Like The Cancer Monument®, the purpose of The Cancer Hero Walk of Hope™ is to serve as a reflective
location in which to celebrate the gallant heroism of those who have battled cancer as well as to
educate, inspire and bring hope to those who visit. Along with the inscribed names of our 386 Heroes
the brick walkway will include general health facts obtained from governmental and other documented
sources, famous quotes to inspire, and informational kiosks. Our Cancer Heroes to be inscribed
represent 25 U.S. states, 7 countries, and 35 types of cancer and will serve as symbolic ambassadors
for the many millions of people worldwide who battle cancer. Existing Honorees will have a brick
inscribed with their previously submitted inscription line. Existing Corporate and Family inscriptions
will also receive engraved bricks. Corporate inscription sizes, yet to be determined, will be arranged
by sponsorship levels: Platinum, Gold, Silver, or Bronze. Due to budgetary constraints we are unable
to inscribe corporate logos, colors, or insignias. All inscribed bricks will contain one (1)
alpha-numeric inscription each and will be randomly arranged. Future inscribed bricks will not be
added to the pathway and there will be no distinction made regarding specific individual cancer types,
or whether someone is a cancer survivor, or has passed away. The Cancer Hero Walk of Hope is made
possible by generous public support raised by The Cancer Monument Incorporated, its Board of Directors,
Advisory Board and volunteers, and is a joint effort created by Dr. Michelle L. Miller, PhD, her
husband J.D. Miller, and the City of Allen Parks & Recreation Department. Construction of this project
is being conducted by the City of Allen, Texas, and is estimated to conclude on or about October 2008.
A New Direction for The Cancer Monument®
In 2007, a 6-month test site of The Cancer Monument in Second Life© was independently conducted with
outstanding results that included worldwide user feedback. For those in the know, Second Life is a
computer based virtual on-line reality world. Visitors to the virtual Cancer Monument test site were
able to: inscribe their cancer hero’s name, leave an inspiring message of hope, search for other Hero
names, sit at the fountains, walk the gardens, raise money for research, plant a tree in honor of
someone, learn about cancer and ways to prevent it. We are working towards completing an interactive,
simulated Cancer Monument to be available at our website in the future.
The Cancer Monument Incorporated is a Texas 501c3 charitable organization and is proud to continue
its mission to provide cancer education, prevention, research advocacy and quality of life information
for patients and their families. Going forward, our goals will be achieved chiefly through web-based
media programs available at our website www.thecancermonument.org such as our existing interactive
program: Dog Tales Healthy Kids© multi-media program, radio and television shows, E-books, published
stories, and other articles by Dr. Michelle L. Miller, PhD, as well as the soon-to-be released,
Adoption After Cancer E-Tools Program©. As for the monument, which is our namesake, it will remain in
use and will retain its unique design, United States trademark and copyright status.
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