While summer should be winding down, a few things are still cranking up.   The track and field events are about to start at the Summer Olympics in Beijing.   Rick Warren of Saddleback Church is about to host a forum for presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain.  And the Democratic Party will be staging their made for TV convention in Denver.   Where will I be?  In Europe, fighting cancer at the first Reel Lives Film Festival in Geneva.

A few years ago, as John Marks and I finished filming the first part of a Purple State of Mind, my precious wife was diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma.   It was quite a blow.   Cancer snuck up on our family and delivered a sucker punch when we least expected it.   Unfortunately, cancer never takes a summer break.

A combination of chemotherapy, prayer and In ‘n Out Burgers carried Caroline to the far side of the struggle.   The entire ordeal nearly killed her. But we are thrilled to report she remains 100% cancer free two years after her treatment.   Amidst the battle, we couldn’t see very much positive or helpful coming from cancer.   We still consider it an unjust, insidious killer.   

So how do we counter cancer?   Research must remain a global funding priority.   Regular screenings and early checkups are a tremendous help.  I'm doing my part to spread the word. I’ve been privileged to serve as the programmer for the inaugural Reel Lives:  The Cancer Chronicles Film Festival, taking place in Geneva, Switzerland this August.   Reel Lives is being held in conjunction with the bi-annual World Cancer Congress.   It represents a partnership between the International Union Against Cancer and the generosity of sponsors like Glaxo Smith Kline.    I’ve been privileged to combine my first hand experience as a caregiver against cancer with my film festival expertise. 

So Dr. Film will take a summer break from blogging.  But I’ll be roaring back in September, ready to rumble with my faithful readers.