Rachel Stephens Photography is proud to announce a new program, ‘Sirens for Survivors.’ Thanks to donations of support, Rachel Stephen's dream of giving back to the community is coming true. And now it is time to share it with Nashville.
Rachel Stephens Photography is offering one photography session per event to a breast cancer survivor “to help these courageous women love themselves in their own skin again after unimaginable emotional and physical hardship.” As she travels across the country taking ‘Sirens’ boudoir photography and professional portraits of women, Stephens is also doing her part to assist the community and raise awareness of a disease that takes a woman’s life every 13 minutes in the United States.
The idea of ‘Sirens for Survivors’ came to Stephens when she was thinking of giving back to women and the community, both of which helped her create her thriving business. “I see women literally transform in front of my eyes (by the photography). And from what they report later, that confidence stays with them,” Stephens explains. “If my work helps regular women who only have to deal with less than perfect skin or a bit of weight, what could this process do for women who have been ravaged by cancer?”
Stephen’s dream is to see ‘Sirens for Survivors’ develop into a nationally recognized program that will bring more awareness to breast cancer research and finding a cure, which ultimately helps all women. It is her hope the photographs give the survivors the confidence and self-worth lost in the process of treatment and illness of surviving cancer.
- A chance to tell your story of being a breast cancer survivor as a guest writer for Judith Yates’s column in examiner.com
- One free “Sirens for Survivors” session courtesy Rachel Stephens Photography during the July25-26 Nashville event
Be sure to include your name and all contact information: address, phone numbers, email, and date of birth at the end of your essay. You must also be willing to provide your primary cancer care physician contact information. (“Unfortunately,” Stephens says, “I have had people fake cancer treatment in an attempt to receive free sessions. It’s appalling.”) All information is for verification purposes only, will be kept strictly confidential, and will not be published.
Essays will be judged on sincerity, clarity, and relevance to the topic, “Why I would like a Rachel Stephens photo session.” Age limit for entrants is 21 and up. You do not have to be a professional author.
Email your essay with the Subject line “Sirens for Survivors” to survivor.contest@comcast.net.
The Hutton Hotel promises to be an exciting and luxurious environment for the photography session. “A brand new hotel!” Stephens raves. “It’s a rare treat we get to secure penthouse suites for events. We’re excited!” No other contest has been held like this with another online newspaper and Rachel Stephens Photography, which makes Nashville another “first.”
JULY 10, 2009 Author's update: The Hutton Hotel has withdrawn from participating in the event, "after disclosing all information about the nature of my business and being confirmed for their penthouse suite, one day after I sent them the article on breast cancer survivors," according to Rachel Stephens. Stephen's received an email from a Hutton Hotel Representative which read, in part,
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Comments
Thanks for offering so generiously of your time and talent. Women should be encouraged to tell their stories and offer others hope in the fight against breast cancer.
Victor M. Kasatshko
dolifesymbol.com
"In loving memory of my Mother whose loss inspired me
to create the positive and hope-filled LIFE symbol.
Pancreatic Cancer took my Mom!"
That is terrible that the Hutton did that! Rachel this is a wonderful thing you are doing for women!
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