On a trip to Costa Rica my mom noticed she had a little more belly fat than normal. My dad went on a diet with her but she stayed gaining weight at a massive rate while he lost his. The Dr. then diagnosed her with stage three almost stage four ovarian cancer. If you don’t know much about cancer (I still don’t know as much as I should) stage one is usually something small they can just cut out while stage four is that long and serious talk that no one wants to have about your options.

After surgery where the Dr’s removed 6-8 liters of cancer fluid (not a fond memory so I don’t remember the exact number) my dad told me that teal was the color for Ovarian cancer, hence the color of her post op room. It wasn’t just Breast Cancer with a corresponding color. Every cancer has a color and I knew there must be a way to show who has been affected by what.

Through two clubs at school I was able to utilize a workforce of students to help me not only buy the shirts but also sell them to other students.This project took off, in the first year we sold shirts at two high schools and sold 750 shirts there and in the community. The next year we started with 8 high schools and ended the second year with 20schools. 

I went to college the next year and my mom passed away that December 2nd. I stopped with Cancer T-Shirts after that, but after a few years in college where I recently lost my aunt and grandfather to cancer, realized that cancer won't leave me alone, so I shouldn't leave it alone.

Cancer T Shirts does a lot but the two most apparent would be the awareness these shirts bring and of course the money raised. All the money that doesn't pay operating expenses (shipping, website domain fees, shirt costs etc.) will and has been donated to various organizations that seek to rid the world of cancer. If schools sell the shirts as a fundraiser we give them the option to choose where the proceeds go, but it has to be to an organization that is dedicated to cancer research in some form or fashion.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. It has been very therapeutic to have this outlet and realize there are so many good people out there in the world that care about one another, and I'm always honored by those who selflessly help others get through the hard times in life, much like my mother did for me while she was still with us.

Every cancer has a color, every color has a story, and no one story is the same. What's your color?

-Preston Nix