For friends and family of Steven Michael Mackin, today is a day of remembrance.  On October 28th, 2006 – Steven passed away from Ewing’s Sarcoma and today marks the second anniversary of his death.

As we move into two years of Steven’s passing, a lot of mourning and sadness has passed – along with the introduction of new positive things that we can reflect on as well.  Stomp Out Cancer has grown by leaps and bounds, and we continue to live through Steven fighting to raise money to help stop Ewing’s Sarcoma.  Steven was afraid that he had not left his mark on the World, but that is far from reality.  Steven Mackin has inspired, created, and provided us with the strength to find Hope for others who are fighting cancer.  Steven is our continued motivation.

Today, Stomp Out Cancer is mailing a check to The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center At John Hopkins (here) for $5,000.00.  This, along with many more payments to come will go to assist Dr. David Loeb and his research staff work to find less toxic treatment methods and early detection tests for Ewing’s Sarcoma – and push further for a cure.

Today is also a special day for us, because our Volume 2 CD is now OFFICIALLY available.  The CD is titled "Hope," in tribute to Ben Lanman, a very brave young man who had Ewing’s Sarcoma and is now (through the care of Dr. David Loeb and his staff) celebrating his eleventh birthday today! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEN!!!

It is true that good things can come from the worst of times, and while we miss Steven every day – we are thankful for the many blessings that we have received from so many caring people.  Kindness through donations, sponsorships, and volunteer work have pushed us farther than we ever could have imagined.  We have made new friends and loved ones, and we have found the courage to continue forward for our cause – to put an end to this horrible disease.

Thank you to everyone who has helped us with our mission, you are truly the special ones and you will bring "Hope." 

We love you Steven.

Sincerely,
The Stomp Out Cancer Board

It seems like just last week you posted a message about starting this compliation so it’s been very exciting seeing this personal goal come together for you and for Steven’s family. There are some great artists and songs that I would have never listened to if it weren’t for stompout so I am greatful for that.

The CD can be enjoyed by people with varied musical tastes as it contains soft acoustic songs, some hardcore rock, and even a dance track so it can be enjoyed by people with varied tastes. Although the mood remains mostly melancholic because of the nature of the project, one of the stand out tracks for me is Cindy Bullens’ "Better Than I’ve Ever Been." The words "laugh louder, cry harder…think smarter, go slower, I know what I want and what I don’t," left me with a strong impression about life, love and loss. Since this profect is dedicated to Steven, it’s even more special that a positive uplifting song is the one I want to hear all day. I look forward to listening to the future projects.
 

My name is Stephanie Hill.  I was a very close friend of Steven’s.  I live here in Bardstown and live less than a block away from his mother.   Steven and I were very close and considered ourselves best friends.  Sheila told me about the project several months ago, and asked me to contact you, but its taken me this long to even look at the site. 

I’m still in so much mourning that it kills me to look at things like the website or listen to the music.  I just left the cemetary where Steven is buried for my Thanksgiving visit and I decided to come home and view the website.  ITS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!  Steven is so proud. 

I knew Steven for about 9 years, after working with him at the local hospital here in Bardstown, and then keeping in contact with him through out his time in California and everywhere else that he went throughout his remaining years.  Its still amazing to me that I can’t pick up my phone and talk to him or run over to the house and see him.  I was just like Mr. Wheat, I knew nothing of Steven’s passing.  I had just been diagnosed with Cervical Cancer and Steven didn’t want me to know that he was terminal.  The last time I spoke to him was on the Yahoo messenger and he was in University of Louisville hospital, getting ready to be discharged.  He told me that he was going to be fine and that there wasn’t anything wrong with him.  He assured me that we were going to get through this cancer thing together.  About a week later I learned that he had passed.  I had no idea what to do or how to react.  For awhile, I was very angry with him for not letting me know that he was so sick, but since I have learned to forgive him, for looking out for me.  But that just goes to show what type of person Steven was. 

I have since been cured of my cancer and have no sign of anything.  I’m cancer free…..Thanks to God and Steven.  I have no doubt in my mind that Steven didn’t have something to do with the fact that my cancer is now gone.  He knew that my greatest dream was to always have a family someday and when I was diagnosed, that all went into the hands of God……..but now, I’m fine. 

I cry all the time, for missing him, like I said, still have a hard time viewing things that make the reality of him being gone, smack me in the face.  Its so hard to realize and to think of a world and life that he so loved be taken away.  Steven was that one person that could get me out of a bad mood or make me smile when the whole world had turned against me.  We often made late night trips to Dennys and ate breakfast.  We would talk about life and love and everything in between.  He once started to tell me how he wanted his funeral to be, and I made him stop in mid sentence because I knew that he was going to beat it!  I should have listened or maybe just kept my mouth shut, but I couldn’t handle thinking of life without him…..Just like now!  I can’t handle life without him.  I pray to him and talk to him like he’s in my house living with me.  My neighbors probably think I’m crazy talking to myself, but I know that Steven is often here with me.  I can feel his presence.  Please write back or post this message if you would like…..I just want the world to know that I too, loved Steven Michael Mackin with all my heart and soul, and Miss him with everything I have. 

I have heard several times, that the pain gets better with time, but I sure wish that was true, because this pain seems to be never ending.  I just wish I understood why someone so special had to be taken away.  I guess its not for me to understand nor anyone else, but hopefully one day I will see Steven again, and life can be lived the way it was before!  I also want to Thank you from the bottom of my heart for doing this project and making the world understand how wonderful MY BEST FRIEND is.  He was truely one of a kind, and no one will ever be able to replace him. 

Again I Thank you, Stephanie D. Hill

Note From Jake A. Wheat:  Thank you for your very special e-mail, I will write more to you in private but I am so glad you wanted this message posted, because it means so much to me, Steven’s family, and I know that Steven would have wanted you to share your memories of him on this website.  Love, Jake A. Wheat
 

I am enjoying using search engines to find photographs of Steven’s friends releasing balloons, and making the photos public to show how much they loved him.  His MySpace page is filled with friends who stopped by to offer their messages of love, a year after he passed.  His birthday was the same, with friends from all over offering their wishes for a Happy Birthday, and also speaking of how much he is missed.

This website is for Steven, and also for the countless other magnetic and wonderful people who have suffered or who are suffering with Ewing’s Sarcoma.  Remember, one person a day is diagnosed.  One person a day is too many!  Until then, we have to raise money and fund research to make advances, and to help these children and young adults who have been diagnosed with this awful disease.

Buy The CD.  100% of the proceeds go to fight Ewing’s Sarcoma! 

Also, please enjoy the photos below – friends of Steven with their balloons of love to him.  On behalf of Stomp Out Cancer, and Steven’s family – we could not be more honored, and we love you.

If you have a balloon launch picture, or Steven Mackin memory you wish to share with us, please send it to: info@stompoutcancer.com.  We will gladly post it here with your permission!

Steven’s friends from all over shared in the October 28th balloon launch, and let their own balloons go in their own special places.  One of our favorite blogs, “Blabbeando,” writes about it in his blog, which you can read by clicking the link below:

 http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2007/10/pooh-ness-in-ny-carebear-ness-in-hawaii.html
 

Friends,

Please keep Steven’s family in your thoughts and prayers at this time.  He is loved, and very much missed by us all – and his family needs your spiritual support. 

If you want to leave a message for them, please register and comment on this post.  I am sure they would love to read your messages. 

Your support is sincerely appreciated.

Respectfully,
Jake A. Wheat

Friends,

I have put together a very informative video about our project, using the track “The Ranchhands – When Everything Changed,” and photos of Steven with information about Ewing’s Sarcoma and our efforts.

This is currently on YouTube.com, StreetBlast.com, and StompOutCancer.com.

I want to respectfully state that this may be a very emotional video for the family, and I hope that you will look at this video as a way for people to learn more about Ewing’s Sarcoma, and the CD project.  People are not informed enough.

The video is at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erMxK-5Pbu8

I want to again, make sure that you are informed that this is an emotional video, so please do not open this unless you feel you can.

For all websites linked to this project, please use the embed code on the YouTube.com site to embed the video to your site.

Also, let people know about this video by e-mailing it out to others.

Again, my sincere thanks to all of you – this is going to be a great project.

My deepest respect,

Jake A. Wheat

www.StompOutCancer.com

The Stomp Out Cancer benefit compilation CD is due to be released on Sunday, October 28, 2007. This is a very special date, as it is the one year anniversary of the passing of Steven Michael Mackin, the young man who this project is dedicated to. In conjunction with album release and in honor of their son, Steven’s family is planning a very special celebration. On October 28th at the St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Bardstown, KY, gatherers will launch balloons at Steven’s grave site carrying messages to him in celebration of his memory. “We are hoping that people will be able to come with their balloons and fill the sky with color, just as Steven filled the world with his warmth for so many people all over the World.”

The balloon launch will start at 2:00 pm est., and everyone is welcome to attend. “We just ask that you please BYOB (bring your own balloons) and attaching a message is optional. “People may even want to remember another loved one who passed from cancer, and that is ok too. This is a celebration of our love for our son, and a day to simply remember how great he was.” Sheila explained.

Stomp Out Cancer: Indie Artists Fight Ewing’s Sarcoma is a compilation CD filled with beautiful tracks of hope, love, and memorial will also be released to raise money for less toxic treatment methods, and early detection methods.

“This CD has been in the planning stages for months, and we are so proud to finally see it being released. The music is from various artists who have lost loved ones to cancer, or who related to this project in some way. All proceeds from this CD will go to help fund research that is not funded by the FDA, because they say that it is too rare.” Sheila stated. Ewing’s Sarcoma is found mostly in children and teenagers, and currently the FDA does not have any funding for research into this disease. One person a day is diagnosed, but according to the FDA, this is simply not enough.