🎗Artists For A Cure Inc.

Henry Lionheart. You will be remembered through the hearts you have touched.  Without knowing it when I painted your portrait it was the beginning of my journey with Lee Anne and Artists For A Cure.  Henry Gott was just 4 years old when the Medicine Tribe group began sharing his journey.     

So young to be battling cancer during the years when ENERGY is a small child's middle name. He was most definitely a warrior.  I suppose that is why he was honored with the nickname of Henry Lionheart. His father Kevin and mother Katie would post updates about his journey and the group became an extended family.     

Lee Anne and I would constantly check the updates along with the entirety of his Medicine Tribe family.  I, along with many others, felt compelled to share his story and to create memories for little Henry. There were artists from all over the country painting, drawing, writing, and even creating music for Henry Lionheart. Henry was part of all of our lives. We would laugh and cry with the Gott family.        

I can't say that I know how it feels to lose a child, but I can only imagine the emotional toll it took on Kevin, Katie, and their families in November of 2015 when they shared the news with The Medicine Tribe. Little Henry Lionheart had been called home.    Lee Anne and I have always kept him in our memories.       

Fast forward to 2021, after the entire world had actually come to a screeching halt in 2020. When we're all just trying to get our lives back to normal and I get a call from my strong willed, stubborn, yet loving cousin Lee Anne. The first thing out of her mouth was "I need another portrait".      

A young boy named Levi Van Cleef was in his own battle and since Lee Anne has known Levi's father since he was a child she just had to do her part to create a special memory.   It was during this time period that Lee Anne and I started discussing making Artists For A Cure a reality.      

If anyone knows anything about strong southern women, you know they won't give in! It was in December of 2021 that Artists For A Cure became an actual nonprofit.     We give the gift of art to children and families to create lasting memories.  This is just the beginning for us as we have even greater goals to be able to provide equipment, services, and financial assistance to these children and their families. 

We have just begun!