Portraits Gallery - This Saturday at the Campus YMCA!

The Illini 4000 is hosting an event at the YMCA to share the stories of how cancer has affected America. From 6 to 9 p.m., come and learn from individuals from across the country about how facing cancer has changed their lives.This is the second presentation to visit the Champaign-Urbana community since the founding of the Portraits Project. This program aims to lend a voice to the American cancer experience, as recorded over 6 years by cross-country cyclists. The teams conducts interviews (or Portraits) as they encounter cancer patients, survivors, care-takers, and anyone else willing to share their story. These stories share insight into their heart-felt experiences as they gain new focus on family, friendships, and community. There is no agenda, and the interviews always begin with: "In your own words, tell us story."At 7 p.m., there will be a special presentation from the the Directors of the Portraits Project, which we hope you will attend.This event will include stories in various forms of media. A number of them will be presented as videos, including commentary from someone present at the interview. Others will be shown as text, attempting to convey the messages of struggle, hope, and inspiration that the Portraits contain.