A Glasgow calligrapher and illustrator who lost her brother to cancer, has launched a special range of satirical greeting cards to help raise money for Cancer Support Scotland.
Jen Fisher lost her brother Han last year, and has launched the cards on what would have been his 43rd birthday.
Along with her brother, Fisher felt that cards currently on the market didn’t reflect the true enormity and scale of what people experiencing cancer go through, leading her to create new card business, Bing Bong Mail.
Wanting to provide authentic, meaningful and down-to-earth words of support, Fisher began devising colourful cards each featuring a straight-talking, humorous message of comfort, acknowledging the gruelling experience of life with cancer.
Championing her brother’s dark sense of humour, Bing Bong Mail cards feature a protest placard with slogans like “Bring on the drugs”, “Well this sucks” and “Apparently swearing helps”.
The overall design was inspired by a strong feeling from Jen and her family that cancer was not a ‘journey’ as it is so-often referred to, but a ‘war’ – a sustained attack on someone’s body, mind and soul that demands a protest.
She said: “Bing Bong Mail is all about spreading positive vibes, hope and humour and lighting up the dark corners people find themselves in.
“These cards are a way for people to show love, understanding and solidarity to people with cancer.
“It can be hard to find the right words but we know people don’t want to be pacified with a wishy-washy message. Let’s say it how it is and put a smile on each other’s faces in the process.”
She added: “Throughout the hell of Han’s war with bowel cancer, Cancer Support Scotland were a massive help.
“There’s no way I could have been there to support Han as fully as I did if I didn’t have access to the counselling and stress management services the charity offers.
“I wanted to use the cards to support this amazing cause, so they can continue to provide this vital support for other families in the future.”
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