SYCAMORE – Ian Steczo is taking a lighthearted approach to helping fight a serious illness.
He and other individuals from the community are planning to launch a website in February for a new local organization called "Cancer Blows."
The organization will help raise money for the American Cancer Society by selling T-shirts.
Steczo got the idea to form an organization in the fall of 2009 after a close friend, Sycamore resident Nick Calendo, passed away at age 23 after battling colon cancer. A few months after Calendo's death, Steczo's father was diagnosed with lung cancer and passed away earlier this month.
"Something inside of me said I had to do something and make light of the situation," Steczo said.
Chris Brown, co-founder of the Cancer Blows organization, helped create the slogan and character depicted on each shirt. On one set of shirts, "Little Larry" is blowing a bubble with gum with the words "Cancer Blows" written on the bubble.
Another shirt was recently designed with Little Larry telling people to "Fight Like a Champion Today." The character was inspired by Steczo's dad, who was known as "Big Larry."
Brown said he wanted to design something quirky and humorous that would get people's attention.
"We're trying to make light out of a serious situation," he said.
A Sycamore business, Pearachute Media, is helping the organization get off the ground by taking photos, designing shirts and launching a future website, www.cancerblows.com.
"It's not something everyone likes to talk about," said Jason Weilbaker from Pearachute Media.
He said everyone knows someone who has been affected by cancer and he hopes the shirts get people talking and thinking about the illness. He hopes people will share their personal experiences with the group on the website when it's launched.
Pearachute Media held a photo shoot Sunday at Stephen Alan Salon in Sycamore and plans to use photos of people modeling the shirts on the upcoming website.
Stephen Alan Salon co-owner Heather Ramon said the hair salon helped cut and style models' hair for free, and she plans to continue to help the organization with future photo shoots.
"I know it definitely affected some of our staff and some of our guests. It's something we're passionate about," she said. "We try to make sure we're making a difference behind the chair."
Steczo said the exact price of the shirts hasn't been determined yet, but he estimates they will cost $10 to $15.
Steczo's goal is to eventually turn the Cancer Blows website into a successful business where a certain percentage of profits goes toward the American Cancer Society. He said the organization also plans to come out with new shirt designs every few months and expand its merchandise to apparel other than just T-shirts.
"I'm really excited to see this take form," Steczo said. "We're just a few steps away from making it live online."
Get a shirt
E-mail info@cancerblows.com or watch for www.cancerblows.com launching in mid-February.