Cancer Awareness Fest Features Hats, Songs

By Terry Dickson

News Editor, Ocean Springs Record

        A local recording artist will debut her new single as part of a new festival designed to heighten cancer awareness. 

      The First Annual Hearts with Hope Cancer Awareness Festival will be held May 6 from noon to 8 p.m. at The Shed on Hwy 57 in Ocean Springs.

      Admission to the event, sponsored by Fat Thumb Originals and the Pink Heart Fund, is free. 

      Bands slated to perform include Rochelle Harper Band, Fort Bayou Slim, Tree Logic and The Muleskinners “Swampbilly.”

      Harper penned the festival’s theme song, “What Will You Give (the Butterfly Song)” and will perform the song during the festival, accompanied by a 30 person church choir.  The song will also be turned into a video.

      “The universe has a pulse and a purpose and is always looking for people open to her messages,” said Harper.  “The Butterfly Song represents a message put into motion long before those of us listening to this song ever even knew it.  Now that we hear it, let’s spread the kindness, share the love and bring hope to one another.  Let’s live like the Butterfly:  What Will You Give?”

      Harper said the inspiration for the song came from her grandmother.  “My grandmother, Angelina Rigoli, was going to pass away in 2000.  The family had three weeks to say goodbye,” said Harper.  “Being that she was my best friend and my go-to person when I had ‘life issues’ I had tow questions for her: Who am I going to call when I have a question?  To which Angelina responded, ‘listen to your heart.”

      When Harper lamented over the fact that she would no longer be able to see her grandmother, Rigoli responded, “Don’t worry, I’m coming back as a butterfly.”

      “I still miss her so much,” said Harper.

      Six years later, Harper met Michele Hirata, owner of Fat Thumb Originals.  Hirata, whose mother died of cancer, sells colorful and comfortable chemo beanies, scarves and other accessories for people battling cancer.

      “(Michele) shared with me a poem prefacing the sharing with, ‘I do not write poetry’.  Michele Had lost her mother to cancer and now her mother’s sister was dying of cancer,” said Harper.  “Michele was moved to the point of writing and insisted that this poem was meant for me to write a song that was going to raise millions of dollars for cancer patients.

      “Within her poem was one single line that spoke directly to me and told me that I was going to write a song, the line was, “butterflies, fly”.  I knew that line was my grandmother reaching out to me.  I did not know that that line would lead to ‘The Butterfly Song’ and inspire an entire event to raise money for the Pink Heart Fund, a fund that distributes monies to cancer patients on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.”

      Out of the song came the idea for the festival. 

      “While doing pre-production recording at my musical partner’s studio, Gary Bozwell, it came to me that a festival should be put on and The Shed was the perfect place,” said Harper.

      “Linda Orrison is a kindred spirit of love.  I knew she would be completely into helping others, and of course she was and so was Brooke, co-owner of The Shed and daughter of Linda.  If Michele hadn’t of met JoAn Niceley, who has the Pink Heart Fund, we wouldn’t of had a purpose to put on such an event.  The Mississippi Legislature recently passed a bill in her name.  The Hearts with Hope Cancer Awareness Festival at The Shed was born through the Butterfly song; through Michele writing this poem; through my grandmother leaving me with the comfort of being able to see her in any butterfly and of course, ultimately, through God. 

Colorful beanies

      Hirata is using her colorful chemo beanies as a way of promoting the festival. 

      Highway 90 motorists may notice that the famous Alberti’s gorilla, which beckons diners into the popular Italian restaurant, is wearing one of Hirata’s beanies.

      “I wanted to promote Hearts with Hope in a fun, uplifting way and involve my community.  It’s so important for me to share my secret of happiness with others, it’s all about what you give, really,” said Hirata.

      “By choosing the Alberti’s gorilla, the whole community is relating to an icon they grew up with and love.  Questions are asked and in a fun way, Hearts with Hope is shared.  By the way, the gorilla loves her Fat Thumb Chemo hat and has a big Heart with Hope.”

      Hirata said the owner of Alberti’s told her that she would dedicate the hat on her gorilla “to all the beautiful customers that had lost their life to cancer over the last 37 years.”

      Between now and festival time, Hirata said she will “be hitting some more icons around town with a little Fat Thumb love (hat) to raise awareness about Hearts with Hope.”

      “I hope all store owners are as cooperative and giving as Alberti’s,” she added.

Raising awareness

      Hirata said the festival will also feature courageous cancer survivors who will share their inspirational stories.

      Scheduled speakers include:

·         Briana Cuevas, 14, who battled Hodgkin’s leukemia cancer as a child.

·         Glenda Collins, a breast cancer survivor of 17 years who will speak on hope.

·         Lisa Russell survived three types of cancer, almost died and never gave up.  Russell graded papers at home from her bed and taught out of a recliner at school.

·         JoAn Niceley, a four-year breast cancer survivor, will speak on the Pink Heart Fund that helps women and children get wigs with limited funds and the American Cancer Society’s Look Good…Feel Better program.

      There will also be many informational booths at the festival.

      “If we can give hope to one person battling cancer or make someone feel beautiful or special, our mission is complete,” said Hirata.  “one person at a time, one hope at a time.  I’m involved with Hearts with Hope because it tears me up when I meet someone who loses hope in their battle with cancer.  I’ve met women and men who give up their battle very early in treatment because they have no hope within themselves for recovery.  They think, ‘How can I battle this when so many people with so much more can’t?’  This is heartbreaking. 

      My mission is to spread love, happiness and hope to one person at a time.”

      For more information, visit www.fatthumboriginals.com.