Please welcome the newest member of my team (my real life job). Karen is a 17 year cancer survivor and the president and founder of the Ivan and Sam Foundation, an organization devoted to helping children with cancer and their families fight this terrible disease.From her website:
Life was good again until her early twenties when Karen was diagnosed with cancer. For a brief moment her world once again, stopped. Karen went through radical treatments and surgeries until she was cancer free.
But true to herself and to those around her, she showed that she would not be deterred from doing what she loved. In May 1998, Karen attended the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life. This event spawned a life-changing move that would forever change Karen’s career, her life, her faith and all those involved – she for the first time walked the survivors lap.
With A New Light
Two years later, Karen returned to the studio. After meeting with Independent Record Label, Rogue Records President and Producer Lee Davis of Atlanta, Georgia, Karen teamed up with writers and began a new album – This time, it was the secular world of music calling Karen. One of her penned songs was based on the Relay for Life event she experienced two years earlier. The song was called “Live The Dream” and its message reached out to all cancer survivors and families of cancer victims. “The song not a typical country song, but one that crossed over into the Christian sector of music. It was a song about hope. With that song, I found a way to help millions who suffer from cancer and to help their families find comfort and hope,” stated Karen. The song became a national theme to thousands of survivors at the nearly 4000 Relay’s for Life across America.
Everyday a life is touched
By darkness and despair
Tears of pain we cannot understand
Yet through unity we bring
The strength of all our dreams
Our hands, our hearts, our hopes, our
Prayers of peace
(Chorus)
For now the time has come to believe in the light
A light that shines so far beyond the dark
If we all reach out and sing
To create the harmony
The we all can join as one
And Live the Dream
Small flames become a glow
That the wind of life can't blow
This beacon holds the spirit of our hope
As we celebrate the lives
With courage and with pride
Hearts touch hearts as we walk the walk for life
(Chorus)
Let's light the candles and hold each others' hands
Walking toward our dreams
Singing all the way
"We Can"
(Chorus)
Then we all can join as one and live the dream
By darkness and despair
Tears of pain we cannot understand
Yet through unity we bring
The strength of all our dreams
Our hands, our hearts, our hopes, our
Prayers of peace
(Chorus)
For now the time has come to believe in the light
A light that shines so far beyond the dark
If we all reach out and sing
To create the harmony
The we all can join as one
And Live the Dream
Small flames become a glow
That the wind of life can't blow
This beacon holds the spirit of our hope
As we celebrate the lives
With courage and with pride
Hearts touch hearts as we walk the walk for life
(Chorus)
Let's light the candles and hold each others' hands
Walking toward our dreams
Singing all the way
"We Can"
(Chorus)
Then we all can join as one and live the dream
14 comments:
Wow, the Ivan and Sam Foundation looks like it does make not just a big, but a huge difference!
Love the idea of the boy and his dog, can only imagine how that has helped so many, I'm sure. Karen is obviously a very giving and special person, obvious too by the words of the song.
Morning - hope you have a beautiful Saturday, x
Sunshine, we are lucky to have her on our staff. She brings so much positive energy to the team. I'm looking forward to the three days at the lakehouse.
The weather here today is close to perfect. I'm picking up C a little later today and tomorrow we head out for our big adventure. :-)
Have a great evening sweetness.
:-)
Safest bet then to wish you a wonderful, happy and relaxing week now, both with C and later at the lakehouse. Take good care, you will be missed that's for sure, xoxo
A, I'll be back before you know it. Besides, I haven't left yet. :-)
I'm sure Karen will bring much energy to your team. Survivors know and experience things in a different way to most.
I've survived cancer, I was only 15 when I first had it. Surviving makes you see everything in a very real light.
Have a wonderful time at the lakehouse and with your son :-)
Leigh, I learn something new about you all the time. I've often marvelled at the perspective that survivors have. One of the things that most strongly attracted me to the Armstrong story was how cancer seemed to change the very way he thought and saw the world.
Thanks for the well wishes. C and I are going to Chattanooga and later in the week I'm taking the team to the lakehouse. It is the kind of week I wish could last forever and will pass much too quick. Better enjoy every moment. :-)
Absolutely! Life life to the max :-)
I look forward to your next post!
Ooooh, I couldn't have said it better tonight. Life to the max. Yes! No regrets! No looking back! I think we have more in common than I ever imagined. :-)
Makes me want to ride. Bikes optional. :-D
#25 :-)
Take care, x
"Live the Dream" is an inspirational testimonial for life.
God bless you all.
Live and survive...
beautiful work..
Keshi.
Missing you. The blogshere is just not the same without you here :-) xo
I missed you too sweetness.
Hey Keshi. Always good to see my angel. :-)
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