Building Community Through Art

Building Community Through Art

blogpost325_1As a new team member of The Max Foundation, I feel honored to work with an organization that advocates for patients dealing with blood cancer. This global health organization has helped thousands of patients get access to treatment, provide education and awareness, and bring a community together throughout the world.

The Colors of Hope Art Collection is a vivid example of community work that empowers patients and caregivers to speak up about their journeys while dealing with cancer through art. The current gallery display at the University of Washington not only provides a glimpse of beautiful art from around the globe, but also each picture echoes the strength, resilience and hope each patient has.

These 24 pieces of artwork remind us that as a community we need to keep fighting for equal access to cancer treatment and keep bringing the subject to our policymakers. There are still thousands of people around the world without any access to medication and treatment. High costs of treatment, lack of support and lack of information are some of the reasons of why patients don’t get treatment. These pieces of artwork encourage us to look at our community and advocate for those who are dealing with cancer to help them find strength, courage, and hope.

The artwork will be on display until August 21st, 2014 and I invite you to stop by and feel the strength our community brings together.

The Max Foundation is a leading global health nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating health equity. For 28 years, Max has pioneered practical, scalable, high-quality solutions to bring life-extending treatments and patient-centered health care to more than 100,000 people living with cancer and critical illness in low- and middle-income countries. Max believes in a world where all people can access high-impact medicines, where geography is not destiny, and where everyone can strive for health with dignity and with hope.

Related Articles

  • Advocacy, a Technology Breakthrough, and a Celebration of Life

    Advocacy, a Technology Breakthrough, and a Celebration of Life

    On a dry sunny Saturday in Addis Ababa, more than 100 people sat in an auditorium at the Black Lion Hospital, intently listening to a panel of experts. Representatives from the Federal Ministry of Health, doctors, local and international NGOs, and concerned citizens, gathered together for the first time, to discuss the challenges of treating cancer in the country. People in the audience were not ordinary people; they were people who were affected by the dreaded C word, cancer. Most of them, parents whose children were undergoing treatment, some of them cancer survivors themselves.

  • How You Can Celebrate My Birthday and Support People Facing Cancer Around the World

    How You Can Celebrate My Birthday and Support People Facing Cancer Around the World

    Three years ago I made a decision that changed my life: to donate my birthday to support the work of The Max Foundation for as long as I have birthdays to come. Ever since I have been involved with The Max Foundation, every day I am witness to the courage of people faced with cancer, the generosity of spirit of those who become patient leaders, and the dedication of healthcare providers around the world. Join me today by honoring their efforts on my birthday, July 28th.

  • Celebrating our Max Global Network Partners!

    Celebrating our Max Global Network Partners!

    Each year I am humbled by the extraordinary work and dedication of our 68 Max Global Network partners, hailing from over 50 countries around the world, that tirelessly dedicate their time and resources to improving the lives of people living with cancer worldwide. I would like to take moment to acknowledge just a few of….