It starts with my “Irish twin” sister, Colleen Ann Morrison. Colleen was diagnosed with a rare liver cancer not quite three years ago. During this difficult time, I have tried to spend as much time with her as I could. It wasn’t easy since she lived outside of the Denver Colorado area. 

In October, we were chatting about me running for office and we talked about what we could do for a fundraiser. Colleen has always been my cheerleader and I have tried my best to be hers as well.  She has always been a big supporter of the yellow “fight for life” bands and wanted to do something like that for our campaign. She came up the idea of doing a pink band with “pray for a cure” imprinted on the inside and my campaign slogan on the outside.  She said my campaign could help raise funds for cancer and we could sell bands for five dollars at events and then donate a portion of proceeds to the American Cancer Society.  She was pleased with her idea – and I was happy if she was happy!

We then went online and placed the order.  After several weeks past, frankly, I had forgotten about the bands that we ordered.  On November 1, Colleen’s health was fading and I flew back to Denver to visit with her.  Sadly, she passed away two days after I arrived at her home, peacefully and with our family present to comfort her.

When I flew back home some five days later I went into my office and there was a big box waiting for me.  When I opened it, there were the pink cancer/campaign bands.  In a way, it was a “hello” from Colleen. 

I have since decided that I am not going to sell the bands. Rather, I am going to give them away all at events - all 1,100 of them - and ask that people make a donation of any amount in a jar at that time.  I will keep a weekly tally and update it on the website. At the end of the campaign, on Wednesday March 21, 2012, I will inform everyone of the total tally and donate that entire amount to the American Cancer Society in the name of my sister, Colleen Ann Morrison.

Thank you and pray for a cure!

Sean M. Morrison