My Wristband Fail Is Your Gain!
Free Glow Bands for the Cancer Community
The box showed up at my door, and I couldn’t wait to open it. Inside were 400 silicone wristbands that say “We got this” and “Bless Your Vibes,” with little hearts and stars. Then I held one up to the light and squinted. I could barely read a single word.
I Tried to Fix Them
So I did what any stubborn cancer survivor would do. I bought silicone sealant, tested it, and tried painting the letters so they would pop. That didn’t work either. At that point, I had 400 wristbands and no plan.
Then I Turned Off the Lights
Later that night, I switched off the lamp and the whole pile started glowing. These bands are glow-in-the-dark yellow, and they light up a dark room. That’s when it clicked. They still had a job to do, and that job is you!
My Fail Is Your Gain
I’m mailing 5 free glow bands to anyone affected by cancer. Patients, survivors, caregivers, loved ones, and healthcare providers are all welcome.
- 5 bands per household
- US mailing addresses only
- 80 sets available, and once they’re gone, they’re gone!
Get Creative With Your Glow Bands
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Practical uses
- Pill bottle tracker. Move the band to the cap after you take your dose for the day.
- Insurance card holder. Stretch a band around your phone to hold your insurance card on the back for appointments.
- Jar grip. Wrap one around a tight lid for extra grip when your hands are weak or tired.
- Water bottle ID. Mark your bottle at infusion or support group so it doesn’t get mixed up.
- Bag spotter. Put one on your chemo bag, tote, or suitcase handle so you can find it fast.
- Cord wrap. Bundle your phone charger cord so it stays neat in your bag.
- Cane or walker marker. Add a pop of color to your mobility aid.
- Wall and room art
- Glow mosaic. Cut bands into small squares and glue them onto black poster board in the shape of a heart, star, or awareness ribbon.
- Night sky. Cut out stars and a moon and stick them on a bedroom ceiling with removable putty. Kids of cancer patients will love this one.
- Word art. Cut strips and spell out HOPE, your name, or “We got this” on a canvas.
- Glowing sun. Use one loop for the center and cut strips for the rays.
- Support team frame. Glue loops and cut stars around a picture frame that holds a photo of your people.
- Shapes and characters
- Smiley faces. Glue a loop flat for the face and use tiny cut pieces for the eyes and smile.
- Flowers. Pinch 5 loops into petals and glue them around a center circle.
- Awareness ribbon magnet. Twist a cut band into a ribbon shape, glue it, and add a magnet to the back for your fridge.
- Pet portraits. Shape your dog or cat’s face from cut pieces.
- Things to use and share
- Countdown chain. Cut each band to smaller pieces, loop it through the next one, and glue it closed. Remove one link after each treatment or appointment.
- Holiday ornaments. Glue loops into a star or snowflake and hang them on the tree.
- Cut them up, write single words of inspiration, leave them at the clinic for people to find.
- Tic tac toe board. Use loops as the O’s and cut strips as the X’s. A good game for waiting rooms.
- Fun photo ideas
- Five bands, five people. Post a photo with the 5 people who have your back, each wearing one, and tag them.
- Wear one to scan day or your next appointment and post a selfie.
- Make a mouth puppet and color your hand like a puppet, putting the band around the mouth
Before you use them, charge your bands in sunlight or under a bright lamp for a few minutes. Then turn off the lights and watch them glow!
Show Me How You Glow
Once your bands arrive, do your thing with art therapy, snap a photo or a short video and post! Tag @blessyourvibes and use #GlowForCancer so I can find it. There’s no contest and no prizes. I want to see what you come up with.
While You’re Here
Take a look around. My Cancer Support Resources page has more than 700 links for patients and caregivers, from financial help to emotional support. You can also find the Cancer Care Book, the workbook I created after my own bladder cancer diagnosis.
We got this friends!
<3 Chelle