Cancer Survivors' Garden — Attraction in Chicago

Richard and Annette Bloch Cancer Survivors Parks: My husband and I literally stumbled into the Chicago Cancer Survivors Park, ironically on a trip back to Chicago where we had lived for ten years. The second part to this discovery and probably the more poignant emotion is that he had just completed surgery for a rare and aggressive form of prostate cancer.

The Cancer Survivors Parks are a daily reminder to all who pass by that the park and message are meant to support your subconscious mind that death and cancer are not synonymous. The message and the space are meant to give hope and courage. To those in the process of fighting the disease, it is meant to give directions and determination. To those who have not had cancer, it is meant to reduce fear.

At last count there are now twenty-four Cancer Survivors Parks throughout the USA and Canada. The R. A. Bloch Cancer Foundation (Richard Bloch, co-founder and honorary chairman of the board of H & R Block, Inc.) provided money for the construction of the Parks including funding perpetual maintenance. Each Park is individually designed to complement the surrounding area. The Chicago garden could use a little TLC.

Each park has three elements ... the first element is to promote a positive mental attitude, the second is to show the cancer journey with a successful outcome, and the third "Road to Recovery" consists of seven plaques explaining what cancer is and basic actions to successfully overcome the disease.

Richard and Annette Bloch Cancer Survivors Parks have been completed in Bakersfield, CA; Baltimore, MD; Chicago, IL; Cleveland, OH; Columbia, SC; Columbus, OH; Dallas, TX; Houston, TX; Indianapolis, IN; Jacksonville, FL; Kansas City, MO; Memphis, TN; Minneapolis, MN; Mississauga, Ontario, Canada; New Orleans, LA; Omaha, NE; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Phoenix, AZ; Rancho Mirage, CA; Sacramento, CA; San Diego, CA, Santa Rosa, CA; Tucson, AZ,...

Me and Emma went on a trip th daily. Park and came across a park that is strictly in rememberance of cancer survivors. It's astounded me as I read each little statue stand that gave inspirational quotes for others to know deep down inside there is still a chance to cure yourself and not to give up hope. It meant alot to me as my father died from apendex cancer in Oct '08. Before he passed he remodeled the house completely to make sure we had a stable home to live in. Even with a kehmo pack on his side, it didn't stop what he knew needed to be done. To this day he made it possible for my family to continue to live there... I'm now gonna visit this park every time on his anniversary of his passing, being that he may has gone on. He still won the battle of cancer in my opinion. Many would have sat there and pouted or been down about it. But him, nope, he made sure he looked out for use before himself. As a father should and im blessed to have been raised by him and call him dad....

This garden used to be a peaceful place for solitude in the city, but it's no longer the case since building of the neighboring park a few years ago. This is a loss, but it isn't all bad because it could bring increased awareness to cancer – even if for a moment. It's a nice place to catch the sunrise in the...