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Top national photographers bring talents to pediatric cancer patients at NYU Medical Center

February 17, 2007

Photography program highlights the bravery, grace and spirit of children battling cancer and other life threatening Illnesses.

The first New York Chapter for Flashes of Hope is off to an extraordinary start, due much in part to the world renowned photographers that have signed on to tackle the monthly photo shoots at NYU Stephen B. Hassenfeld Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders.

The Chapter launched in March of this year thanks to a generous grant from the Florence V. Burden Foundation. “The breathtaking images coming out of the New York Chapter have been some of the finest yet for Flashes of Hope” said founder Allison Clarke. “We are working with the best of the best in New York… It is very inspiring to see their work with our families” said Clarke. Photographers Jeff Bark, Stephen Mallon, Chris Casaburi, Alicia Hansen and Dani Steele have already participated as volunteers.

Chapter Director Barbara Vesley, who is a hair and make-up artist for MSNBC, has also involved experienced stylists in the effort. “We are so happy to be able to bring the program to the New York area. There is so much talent here, and we are finding that everyone " from the hospital staff to the volunteer stylists and photographers are just delighted to be a part of it” said Barbara Vesley, New York Chapter Director.

Flashes of Hope is a national non-profit organization based in Cleveland, OH that utilizes volunteer, award-winning photographers and stylists to set up photo shoots in pediatric hospitals across the country. The images help children feel better about their changing appearance by celebrating it. For families of terminally ill children, it is especially important to have a portrait that forever preserves the bravery, grace and dignity of their child. Families that are photographed receive a free portrait gift package and a CD with all of their images.

Flashes of Hope began its program in 2001, and currently operates in 19 cities across the country. The Flashes of Hope program will have photographed a total of 2500 children by the end of this year, which is 20% of the total number of children diagnosed with cancer each year. Flashes of Hope has a long waiting list to begin it’s program in more than 24 additional pediatric hospitals across the country, and anticipates more than one thousand children will be photographed this year alone. For further information about the New York Chapter, please contact Barbara Vesely at 646-238-6215.

About Flashes of Hope
Flashes of Hope is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating powerful, uplifting portraits of children fighting cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. Award-winning photographers and professional make up artists volunteer their time and talent during photo shoots held once a month in cities across the country. More than 2500 children have been photographed since Flashes of Hope’s inception in August 2001.

For more information about Flashes of Hope, please visit http://www.flashesofhope.org

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Flashes of Hope Media Relations
Janelle Dougherty
216.570.2077 (direct)
216.514.7005 (office)
Janelle@flashesofhope.org

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