Couple pin their hopes on SirViBear

By Elise Franco

A cancer survivor and founder of SirViBear said teddy bears give comfort to people of all ages.

AUSTINTOWN — With a purple suit jacket and fedora, the SirViBear and his pin represent hope and companionship for those struggling with cancer, as well as for survivors, friends and family.

Bill English, 68, of Austintown said he and his wife, Linda, 57, know all too well the hardships that follow cancer. They designed the SirViBear.

Over the past 42 years, English has gone five rounds with cancer; the latest, he said, was prostate cancer. His wife is a lymphoma survivor.

“Being a survivor, you’re a survivor from the first day that you have cancer,” said Bill English, who has been cancer-free for nearly three years. “People with cancer, they don’t talk to each other, but if they wear the pin, they’ll see other survivors out there ... they can form a camaraderie.”

He said it’s important for people with cancer, as well as survivors, to stay positive.

“It’s like trying to form a support group for survivors and those who are just getting cancer, to show them there’s a light at the end of the tunnel,” English said. “You have to look at it as you’re moving on, moving forward.”

He said the inspiration to design the cancer survivor pin stemmed from his own family struggles.

“In my mind, I’ve been coming up with this for five, six years,” English said. “It’s been about three years since we started the program.”

He said raising money for cancer research is one of SirViBear’s major priorities.

“That’s the whole reason for the pin,” English said.

He said all proceeds go to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the American Lung Association and the American Society of Cancer.

The first survivor pins will be handed out during what English calls the “inaugural day.”

“We’re bringing the bear out of hibernation,” he said.

The event will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Harley Davidson BikeTown on Interstate Boulevard in Austintown.

After a presentation about the program, English will present the first SirViBear pin to his wife, then to all other survivors in attendance.

He said he hopes to see the room packed wall-to-wall with anyone who wishes to attend.

“We welcome anybody who wants to come talk about it or know about it, because everybody knows somebody,” English said.

Pins will be on sale at the event and at www.SirViBear.com for $7.95.

For more information about the event or SirViBear, visit the Web site or contact Bill English at (330) 719-5553.

efranco@vindy.com

SEE ALSO:Cancer survivor pin.