June 29, 2003
By Jason Heid - The Allen American

Honorees sought for cancer monument

Michelle Miller thinks of herself, and her fellow cancer patients, as warriors.

“To me, they were the epitome of what you think of when you think of a soldier; they were brave and courageous,” she said.

And since soon after the Allen resident began her fight with cancer in 2000, she’s been working to construct a monument that will honor the veterans of the war she continues to wage --- the war on cancer.

It was Memorial Day weekend 2000 and Miller had been undergoing treatment for the fist-sized tumor doctors had found in the middle of chest, a form of lymphoma, when the vision of the monument entered her mind.

“I happened to have the news on and they were running something on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.  I just saw the way people were connecting to this monument,” she said.  “I had adopted the warrior’s mentality at that time.  If this is a war, then where is our monument?

“I was jumping up and down in my living room, shouting and screaming, ‘I’m going to build a monument.’”

Three years later, Miller continues to work to make her dream a reality.  On June 1, The Cancer Monument began a drive to find 60,000 names to be inscribed on the monument, at a cost of $100 each.

In March, the city of Allen designated a site for the monument in Allen Station Park.  But construction of the $6-7 million project is still years away.  Miller hopes to see it completed within seven years.

Though she didn’t have any architectural experience, Miller designed the monument herself.  She based the design on that of a human cell, she said, because cancer is a problem that begins on the cellular level.

The circular monument will be 60 feet in diameter, with several black granite slabs featuring the names of cancer victims and survivors and a tall center white pillar that will stand 40 feet high.  Anyone from anywhere can be honored by having a name engraved on the monument.

Miller has worked to recruit corporate sponsors, and to obtain the assistance of the American Cancer Society and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in raising awareness about the project.

Shannon Swarbrick, Collin County area manager for the American Cancer Society, said the monument will help to increase awareness about the dangers of cancer, one of the main goals of the society.

“I think there have been some projects like this, but nothing of this magnitude,” she said.   “I thought it was a wonderful idea.  I thought it would go nicely with the goals and mission of the American Cancer Society.”

Miller envisions a time when thousands will visit the monument, which will be donated to the city of Allen once it’s completed.  Her fight with cancer continues – she underwent an unsuccessful bone marrow transplant last year – but she said focusing on her dream has been helpful.

Her cancer has even gone into remission.

“In March, I went to see my doctor and he said, ‘I don’t know what you’re doing, but keeping doing it,’” Miller said.  “This monument has been very healing.”

And she doesn’t plan ever to stop her awareness campaign, even after the cancer wall is complete.  A Dallas-based filmmaker had been following Miller’s efforts, for a documentary feature, and Miller’s organization is working on book for cancer patients.  She hopes these projects will make a difference, before another person is diagnosed with cancer.

“It’s life-changing,” she said.  “Maybe, they’ll stop smoking.  Maybe they’ll get a mammogram.”

For information about placing a name on the monument, www.TheCancerMonument.org.

Contact staff writer Jason Heid at 972-727-3352, ext. 103, or heidj@starcntexas.com.