A Cancer Explained remembrance program
Honor someone. Bring a memory back.
Is there a shirt, a mug or a blanket in an old photo that reminds you of someone affected by cancer? Send us the photo. We’ll recreate the design, you’ll check every word and color, and we’ll make it again.
Free to request. Nothing is made until you approve it.
Old photo in. New memory out.
- AI-assisted design recoverySoftware helps us read faded text, colors and shapes.
- A person checks every detailA designer reviews the design and fixes it by hand.
- You approve it before anything is madeSee every word and color first, and change anything.
- Made with careProduced and sent to you, ready to keep or to give.
Not merchandise. A second chance for the things you miss.
Honor someone affected by cancer. Preserve something that reminds you of them.
Something they always wore
The team shirt, the knit sweater or the hat from the photo everyone in the family knows.
A gift from them, or for them
A mug, a blanket or a hand-painted sign that wore out, broke or went missing.
Something to share
Matching shirts for the people who love them, for a walk, a celebration or a service.
Moments people often mark
- The end of treatment
- A birthday or anniversary
- A memorial service
- A holiday without them
From an old photo to something you can hold
Here is the whole journey for one example: a knit sweater from a family snapshot.
- 1
The old photo
Faded, a little blurry, and the only copy there is.
- 2
The item, marked
You draw a box around the sweater, or describe it in words.
- 3
The recreated design
We rebuild the band, stars and ball as clean artwork, and a person checks it.
- 4
The new keepsake
Once you approve every detail, it’s made again.
Example recreation. Drawn by our team to show the steps. It is not a customer order and not an AI-generated photo.
How it works
Five steps, at your own pace. You can stop at any point.
- 1Upload your photosOld, blurry or partial photos are fine. Up to 5.
- 2Mark the itemDraw a box around it on the photo, or simply describe it.
- 3We recreate it, and a person checks itSoftware helps rebuild the design. A designer checks every detail.
- 4You approve every word and colorNothing is made until you say yes. Ask for any change you like.
- 5Your keepsake is made and sentWe make it with care and send it to you.
What can we recreate?
Most things with a printed, stitched or painted design. If you're not sure, send it anyway.
- T-shirt or shirt
- Sweatshirt or hoodie
- Jersey or uniform
- Hat or cap
- Mug
- Tote or bag
- Blanket
- Sign or artwork
- Not sure? Send it anyway
School, team and league shirts may need permission
A school name, a league logo or a mascot belongs to that organization. We’ll ask you to check with them first, or we’ll make a tribute version that keeps the colors and the feeling. What we can and can’t recreate
Old photo in. A design you can check, word by word.
- We read the words, colors, shapes and layout from your photos.
- We rebuild the design as a clean file that can be printed or stitched.
- A person checks every small detail against your photos.
- We never invent wording. If we can’t read something, we ask you.
- You see a preview and approve every word and color before anything is made.
An exact copy isn’t always possible. The goal is the look and the feeling of the original.
A second example: a striped sweater, drawn by our team.
How the thank-you gift works
- Step 1Ask for a recreationFree
- Step 2See your designFree
- Step 3Receive the keepsake as a thank-you giftFor a contribution, if you choose
Requesting a recreation is free, and so is seeing your design. You never have to give anything to make a request. When your design is ready, you can make a contribution to support free cancer education and receive the keepsake as a thank-you gift.
Before you give, we’ll show you the gift’s estimated value and how much of your contribution may be tax-deductible.
You can stop at any point. Saying no, or saying “not now,” is always fine.
National Cancer Information Foundation is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) public charity. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law; your own deductibility depends on your individual tax situation, so please check with your tax advisor.
Your photos stay private
Old family photos are precious. Here is exactly how we look after them.
Stored privately
Your photos go into private storage under random file names. They never get a public web address.
Seen only by the people handling your request
Your story stays private unless you tell us otherwise.
Never used for marketing or to train AI
Your photos are used for your request and nothing else.
Deleted when you ask
Email help@cancerexplained.org with your reference and we delete your photos within 7 days.
Respectful recreations, checked carefully.
You need the right to reproduce what’s in your photos. Here is how we sort requests:
- Usually fineFamily, personal and generic designs
- May need permissionSchool, league, club and local-business designs
- Can’t be copiedBig brands, pro teams, characters and bands
Questions families ask
Can you recreate something from a blurry or partial photo?
Often, yes. Software helps us read text, shapes and colors from old, blurry or partial photos, and a designer fills in what it can’t. More photos from different angles help. If we can’t do it justice, we’ll tell you honestly.
Does it cost anything to ask?
Requesting a recreation is free, and so is seeing your design. You never have to give anything to make a request. When your design is ready, you can make a contribution to support free cancer education and receive the keepsake as a thank-you gift. Before you give, we’ll show you the gift’s estimated value and how much of your contribution may be tax-deductible.
Will you change the words on it?
No. We use the words and colors as you remember them and as they appear in your photos. If we can’t read something, we ask you rather than guess, and you approve every word and color before anything is made.
Can this be for someone who is still living?
Yes. Many requests honor someone in treatment, someone who has finished treatment, or the people cheering them on. Others remember someone who has died. You don’t have to tell us which.
What can’t you recreate?
Designs that belong to big brands, pro teams, well-known colleges, cartoon characters or bands usually can’t be copied exactly. School, league and local team shirts may need the organization’s permission. When we can’t copy a design, we can often make a tribute version that keeps the colors and the feeling without copying protected artwork.
How long does it take?
A person replies to every request within about 7 days. The first design preview is usually two to four weeks, sometimes longer for hard-to-read photos. After you approve it, we’ll tell you when to expect the finished keepsake.
Do you use AI?
As a tool, yes: software helps us clean up and trace a design from an old photo. A person checks every detail, and nothing is made until you approve it. We never use your photos to train AI, and we only use tools that don’t train on them either.
Who sees my photos?
Only the small team working on your request. When a keepsake is made, the company that produces it receives the finished design and a shipping address, not your original photos. You can ask us to delete your photos at any time.
What if I change my mind?
You can stop at any point. Saying no, or saying “not now,” is always fine. Email help@cancerexplained.org with your reference and we’ll stop, and delete your photos if you ask.
Other ways to honor or remember someone
Whenever you’re ready
There’s no rush. It takes about ten minutes, and nothing is sent until you press the final button.
The pictures on this page are drawings made by our team to show how the process works. They are not photos of customer orders. Reprint Memories is a program of National Cancer Information Foundation, the nonprofit behind Cancer Explained.