Allison Perry of UK Public Relations has written a fantastic piece about the daughters of late Kentucky dive coach “Iron” Mike Lyden who passed away from lung cancer in 2008. Lyden’s daughters (Jessica 22 and Brittany 14) have come up with a way to give back to the UK Markey Cancer Center where Mike received treatment. The daughter’s decided to make homemade bracelets with white ribbons representing lung cancer, and at seven dollars a piece, they have raised more than $1,000 to date which all goes toward the Mike Lyden Patient Support Fund. Not only has their experience with their father produced this charitable endeavor, but it’s also helped strengthen Jessica’s drive to pursue her medical career to help others.

“I’ve wanted to pursue a medical career since I was very young, and the experience we went through with my dad’s illness and passing has only strengthened that dream,” Jessica said. “I hope that one day as a physician, I will be able to confidently tell patients, ‘We have a cure, and you will never have to worry about cancer again.’ That may not be a reality for every type of cancer, but we can’t stop working toward that goal.”

To read the rest of the story from Perry about the Lyden family, click here.