Greg Murphy- 2011 Commemorative Artwork

The Karen Wyckoff Rein in Sarcoma (KWRISF) Foundation is proud to unveil its 2011 Commemorative Print in honor of the organization’s 10th anniversary and 11th "Party in the Park”. Tthis family friendly event features music, entertainment, arts and crafts and a silent auction will be held Monday, July 25th from 6-9pm.

 

This year’s Commemorative Print features sunflowers, the ever hopeful symbol of Rein in Sarcoma, is again on glorious display in an image donated by award winning Minnesota photographer, Greg Murphy.

 

Murphy’s generosity in providing this year’s photo art was particularly providential to both photographer and event organizers as he too, has waged a courageous battle against cancer. In 1998 Murphy, a husband and father of three, was an executive with the US Post Office when he was diagnosed with a rare cancer that doctor’s believed could end his life in 3 to 5 years. An avid gardener and photographer of sunflowers for years, Murphy began selling his photos during his treatment phase and found that many of his customers were buying the lovely images to encourage and cheer sick friends or relatives. A new career was born and now, as an 11 year cancer survivor, Murphy travels the world to capture the most exquisite examples of nature’s perennially optimistic flower.

 

Says Murphy “When I learned of the wonderful, grassroots work that my fellow Minnesotans were doing through Rein in Sarcoma I wanted to contribute, and when I saw that their logo featured the sunflower topped carousel horse, I knew it was destiny. And it is especially meaningful that my photo is being featured for this year’s 10th Anniversary of RIS as an organiztion.

 

With the spectacular and unique image of a "Magic Roundabout" sunflower facing toward to Sun (click on picture for larger image) our event will have a bold and spectacular new image. To learn more about Greg Murphy, click here.

Christin Garcia, chair of the RIS PR Committee said that in seeking the 2011 image "We're looking of course for hope and strength and grace; as well as compelling beauty! A lot to ask of one little flower... The image speaks to both the realities of a sarcoma diagnosis and the hope we all have in turning to the light of a cure.

KWRISF, based in Minnesota, is a national leader in funding innovative, high-impact research to find a cure for Sarcoma cancers. This frequently misdiagnosed, often lethal group of soft tissue and bone cancer commonly strikes children and young adults, leaving an especially tender kind of heartbreak.