Act to Impact with Brandi DeVries
This show will fuel your fire within to make an impact in the world. It will ignite action to become aware of your untapped gifts, connect with causes close to your heart, and inspire you to take action to make a lasting impact. Brandi is a long-time advocate and fundraiser for a national non-profit and is dedicated to introducing you to stories of hope, resilience, and community from the pediatric cancer community and impact makers around the world that will inspire your purpose to make an impact.
Act to Impact with Brandi DeVries
HOW CREATIVITY IMPACTS CHILDHOOD CANCER WITH JAMES ORIGO
The episode highlights the inspiring work of James Origo and the Big Dreams program at Children's Cancer Research Fund, which turns children's imaginations into joyful, larger-than-life experiences during their battles with cancer. By providing creative distractions through innovative technologies and heartfelt connections, the program creates lasting legacies of joy and laughter for families facing the challenges of childhood illness.
What You'll Learn in This Episode:
- How the Big Dreams program was inspired by personal experiences and evolved to make an impact.
- The innovative ways James and his team use technology, including virtual reality, to connect with children during the pandemic.
- Behind-the-scenes insights into the collaborative process involving artists, musicians, and designers.
- Heartfelt stories of resilience and the therapeutic value of creativity and laughter.
- The emotional rewards and challenges of working closely with children and families affected by cancer.
Learn more about Big Dreams Tour: See the videos.
Watch 15-year old Aimee Baker's giant muffin head movie.
Watch Kimber's quest to find a unicorn ukulele.
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Are you inspired to take action? Take action and make an impact on a child affected by childhood cancer. Support the much-needed funding for childhood cancer by making a donation NOW to CCRF!
Hosted by Brandi DeVries: Advocate, fundraiser, and Mrs. Minnesota International 2025.
Guest: James Orrigo
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Close your eyes for a moment and imagine a world where childhood cancer doesn't mean hospital rooms and treatments, but wild adventures ranging from drift car racing to rideable robot penguins, giant muffin heads. That sounds impossible, right? Well, not if you're James Origo. As an award-winning creative director and the founder and mastermind behind the Big Dreams program at Children's Cancer Research Fund, james turns the extraordinary imagination of kids battling cancer into unforgettable, larger-than-life realities. His mission is more than just bringing joy, laughter and a creative outlet to kids and teens. It's about creating lasting legacies and powerful distractions for families facing the unimaginable. Let's get ready to be inspired, uplifted and maybe even a little teary-eyed. I am so excited to welcome the one and only James to Act to Impact. You're listening to Act to Impact with Brandi DeVries Through heartfelt stories of resilience, hope and community. I share my personal experience as a longtime advocate and fundraiser for the national nonprofit Children's Cancer Research Fund. Invite pediatric cancer families to tell their stories and highlight individuals who use their unique gifts to create a positive impact. It's time to Ignite Action.
JAMES:Thanks, brandi, thanks for having me.
BRANDI:Well, welcome James to ACT to Impact, and I'm Brandy DeVries and I'm chatting with James. Like I said, he's very talented and creative. I can't wait for us to all hear more about his work. But first I want to thank you for watching and listening with us. In this show, we take action and my guess is that you're watching or listening. You're probably here because you're an action taker or you want to learn more about how you can take action in your life and community, and click the follow button, like this episode, leave us a five-star review or leave a comment that helps us reach more action takers like yourself. So, all right, james, let's dive into talking about how we know each other, how we became connected, why you're on ACT to Impact and, as we said in your introduction, you're involved with Children's Cancer Research Fund with one of their programs, and that's how we're connected.
BRANDI:I've been involved with Children's Cancer Research Fund for over eight years and that's how I was introduced to the Big Dreams program and also the virtual Camp Norden component that you've put together as well.
BRANDI:So we initially met in at Dream 2023 when you were there, because you had that cool like virtual VR set that the guests and attendees could kind of get a glimpse of, because that's, if I remember correctly, that is what you were doing with the virtual Camp Norton component. The kids were having that VR component the ones that weren't able to come and spend time at camp and so we had initially, like, met there very briefly you probably don't even remember me with all the people there and stuff that night, but prior to that I had, with SOAR leadership council, we were supporting raising money and raising funds for Camp Norton and for the virtual Camp Norton, and so Mindy Dykes had come on and talked to us about the work that you were doing with that and yeah, it was just such a creative way and I've been following it ever since because I just think it's the coolest thing for these kids. So yeah.
BRANDI:And one thing too. It's just I don't. Either I don't remember hearing this background, or it was never brought up in any of our conversations with Mindy or when we were talking about big dreams in Camp Norton before. But do you have a direct connection to childhood cancer that prompted you to get involved with CCRF?
JAMES:So not not directly with childhood cancer, but my mom she had. Unfortunately she had terminal cancer. So all growing up, you know you're always in and out of the hospitals and seeing how devastating these news. You know that some of the doctors give you and you know you're always in and out of the hospitals and seeing how devastating these news. You know that some of the doctors give you and you know how you're supposed to deal with. You know you only have a couple of weeks left to live, or a few months. You know there's just some hard stuff that unfortunately, this cancer community understands more than others.
JAMES:So being a caregiver was such a beautiful opportunity to you know, just be there for my mom and help her with different things, and one of those things that I found was the most helpful was bringing that positive distraction. So, as time had gone on and she had ended up passing on, that was served as kind of like this catalyst of what we end up doing today. You know, and going through the pain with her is actually what sparked the passion to be able to make me more of an expert at what I do today. And it's just, yeah, it's been amazing, you know, and unfortunately, my mom. You know she only after she had passed. You only have a few voice memos from her, a few videos, and you realize that, like man, I wish I had more audio recordings, because you forget the sound of a voice.
JAMES:So that ended up sparking a whole whirlwind of an adventure to see how can we bring this joy and distraction and legacy preservation in a fun and silly way with. You know, it's one thing to see an adult go through this stuff, but it's a whole nother thing when you're there with some patients that are children. You know that just it's awful. So, yeah, and then that sparked a whole, a whole whirlwind of of incredible opportunities. And you know, we use, we bring silliness and joy and we and technology to to the to patients, right at their bedside.
JAMES:We help them create cartoon music videos, you know, custom video games, larger than life productions, and it's just to kind of show them that you know they're not alone in their fight and that there's whole communities rooting for them. And, yeah, and just to give them a creative outlet and that positive distraction, because that's exactly what you need. And hopefully all the kids I work with live for as long as you know, until 110 would be amazing, but unfortunately the reality of some of the work that I get brought into. That's not the case, and so, at the end of the day, these families get to have these positive videos and songs and games that their kids have created that they can press play again, hear their voice again over and over, and that's invaluable.
BRANDI:Yeah, yep, absolutely so. Did you bring the idea that you just described to Children's Cancer Research Fund, or did they find you?
JAMES:Yeah. So my wife and I, we started this program back in 2015 and we started it, yeah, and just started running. You know, we started working. Nothing was being done like that before, using animation and these custom videos and songs, all sorts of stuff and games. So, yeah, we started in 2015 and we brought it to hospitals all over the country. I worked at the top children's hospitals all over the nation, got involved with. Google was our first sponsor, which is kind of fun and we traveled the US in a little Mini Cooper wrapped in cartoons and bringing joy and distraction, and it totally worked.
JAMES:And then, as time went on, we honed in our process even more and more and it eventually got to the level where, um, yeah, I saw, uh, zach Sobiak's um video and clouds and it just Ooh, it just rippled through your heart, um, and I wanted to thank his mom, uh, zach's mom, laura Sobiak. I wanted to thank his mom, zach's mom, laura Sobiak. I wanted to thank her, um, just because he touched my heart and and he, he served as a catalyst for me to do what I do today as well, and so I just wrote her a personal thank you note. Um, and long story short, those paths crossed and got to have dinner with their family and just, uh, just incredible. And they've gotten to come to some of the events where we're filming, you know, giant turtles and Lamborghinis and all sorts of wild imaginative things that these patients come up with.
JAMES:And, yeah, and then that teamed up with Children's Cancer Research Fund, because they were like, oh, this is awesome. Like you see that as a family service program like this is bringing so much joy and laughter in times where there's not that, um, that it is just, it's one of a kind and, yeah, it's, it's been a beautiful partnership and relationship, um, with Children's Cancer Research Fund, and now we've been able to, you know, take it year after year to just next level. Um, and it's been, it's been awesome. And again, the fun thing is you don't know what experience is going to come up. You know you just dive right in with the, with the child, and and see what they're interested in the most and what their imagination comes up with, and it is so wild of a journey every single time.
BRANDI:Yeah, so going back to when you first started this, was it always called big dreams tour, or has that name evolved, or? Or how did you guys determine like, this is what it's going to be?
JAMES:Yeah, that's it. Yeah, it really evolved to that, because it just turned into yeah, you want to help people dream big, um, especially, um, these kids, uh, who are confined to a hospital room or on hospice. You know, you want to. Time is such a such a fleeting thing and life is such a precious gift, so we just wanted people to to dream big, and and then we try to help those dreams come to reality. You know, and sometimes those dreams aren't even what you're expecting. You know you're, if you're a kid, you're not expecting to make a song about riding on the back of a mechanical penguin and drift car around a zoo, but next thing, you know, that ends up turning into a reality. And then they have this beautiful, beautiful moment with their family where they're literally riding on the back of drivable drift car penguins through the Detroit Zoo penguin exhibits, like collecting rare cards. It was absolutely beautiful.
JAMES:So, yeah, and and then that that that name has just continued to evolve and we we switched it to big dreams, virtual tour, um, when it um, when covid hit, everything shut down, you weren't allowed in hospitals or anything like that, so normally we would be bedside um with the patients, but we had to pivot, and so you just look at that as a unique opportunity. So we started figuring out how we could utilize Zoom and make, you know, meeting online more fun and engaging, instead of just a boring Zoom call. So, next thing, you know, we're doing the 3D modeling over the screen. We're doing, you know, all this stuff that's super immersive and it ended up having such an impact that it ended up winning all of Zoom's overall innovation award.
JAMES:For, you know, when COVID was happening and everyone was using Zoom, we were using it in a way that was so meaningful and, yeah, so we'd meet on Zoom and then we'd send them a VR headset, like you had mentioned. And we now, all of a sudden, now we could bring them up to the moon or surround them with dinosaurs and puppeteer. You know a wild scene of all sorts of things. They could ride on the back of a whale if they wanted, you know, and then we'd premiere their music video in virtual reality and it just serves that total escape from the hospital walls. You know, it's like took you to a whole nother place and their families are just having a blast seeing their kids like light up you to a whole nother place and their families are just having a blast seeing their kids like light up.
BRANDI:Um, yeah, and that's yeah Thinking about. They're like, for once they can, they can have something else to think about and look forward to, other than like when their next appointment is or when they're going to get poked again and that they're in control.
JAMES:You know what I mean. It's not my ideas, it's not anything, it's, it's, it's what, what you say goes, let's see where it takes us, and, and you know, and I can help hone it, but it's like, you know, how often do you as a, as a child who's getting poked and prodded, and what you can't eat, what you can't um, it's like whoa, I have full control of something. You know what do I want to create? And it leads to things that are just incredible.
BRANDI:Yeah, walk me through us, through that process of when there is a kiddo that you're introduced to and you're, or you're reaching out to them and saying, hey, I get to bring your wildest dreams to life.
BRANDI:Like, what's that process? Like, how do you initially have that conversation? And because I'm very curious, like how you get them to open up so that you can make their dreams come to life through the games and the sounds and the animation, right, because they don't know you, right, and so it's like you clearly, though, have a gift to get them to open up through your process as well, but I'm curious, like, yeah, what's what do you go through with them so to get, and eventually, to that end result, because the videos are so cool, but it clearly there's a lot that goes into it there's no like planned formula or script, because it has to be fluid and it has to be genuine and it has to just kind of work with each kid and and yeah, this comes with years of practice um, you know, being in situations that are unbelievably challenging, like if someone came up to you and be like, oh, tell me your wildest dream.
JAMES:Like you wouldn't even know what to at least I wouldn't even know what I would talk about, you know. So we don't put any pressure on, like you know, because that can almost be overwhelming. I'm like, whoa, you can pick anything and do anything. Well, what is it, you know? Um, so we just kind of start with just getting to know them and just start just chatting with them and their family and like seeing what, what clicks, and and once you see what makes them laugh and you get this little like spark in each, in each patient we've worked with. It's like, oh, okay, this is, this is the way, this is where we're going.
JAMES:And you know and I I've done this in so many different situations that it's really it's honed in the craft. I mean, like I said, we would be making songs with and videos with kids who are super outgoing and are so jazzed up, excited to do this. And then there's other kids we've worked with where they're terrified of singing. They don't even know I don't even sing, you know. And next thing you know they're making this smash hit country song or something you know, like whoa, I didn't even know I could do that, you know. And then you know, and then we've worked with kids that are like totally nonverbal, you know, from brain tumors, and they can't speak and and yet you're still able to dig out and find that spark of what makes them laugh. You know, I was working with a patient one time. They can only communicate with their eyes, you know. And next thing, you know, you're still bringing this silliness and joy and they're lighting up strictly with eyes, you know.
JAMES:It's like, so you're just giving that one-on-one attention and really just really taking that time to enjoy this person, you know, and enjoy their ideas and see what they can create. And so, yeah, so we just start, I mean and again it can be anything, it's from. Next thing, you know, we're making it about giant muffin heads or or really meaningful ones of they want to make something lasting for their family that they can hold on to. It's like you know that are that are kind of, you know, intense, but half of the time time they don't even know really what they're creating until all of a sudden they get this end result and it's like what the heck? This sounds so good. You know they have drums, they have pianos, they have and then they see these animations that have been created with, you know, top level animators and and getting all sorts of people involved.
JAMES:So it's just, um, yeah, so I don't know if that necessarily answers your answer, but answers your question, but it it just comes with years of practice and and genuine care for this population and you just devote that one-on-one focus. And how often do we even have that in a day where someone genuinely is here sitting listening to you and they actually care about your ideas. How often do we even get that so to have that a lot of these kids light up and and a lot of them have just, you know, they have all day to other patients all across the country. So there's this service aspect and that actually creates a real excitement in the kids because they start thinking, oh, I'm going to make something, what's something funny I could make, that that would make another kid laugh. That's in the same situation.
BRANDI:So um having that service aspect to the program is has been like absolutely amazing, has been like absolutely amazing, and how many um hospitals or clinics have access to like all those, those videos and the games. Yeah, I mean, it's anybody who's on instagram.
JAMES:If you have an instagram account, you have access, and we have you know this massive network.
BRANDI:Yeah, because we're using augmented reality for some of these games, because a lot of the games we're.
JAMES:Some of these games Cause. A lot of the games we're creating they use head tracking, um, because a lot of kids that we've worked with um, especially in the brain tumor community. They aren't able to play video games anymore. So, uh, we actually ended up using augmented reality to to which uses face tracking, and we're able to create these video games where the patient can at least move their head left and right and they can steer the character, they open their mouth and they can jump over things or so, yeah, so we find ways to like use tools that people have access to every day, but in really creative ways yeah, oh, I love that.
BRANDI:That's really good. But so how long does it take from the time that you meet with the kid? Are you, is it one time, or is it like multiple times, that you guys are going back and forth to create animation or the songs or the game or whatever it might be?
JAMES:I try to work as fast as I can because unfortunately, with this population, time is of the essence. So I try to get things done, um, within a week. Uh, sometimes it can take a little longer when we have kind of backed up um, but, and sometimes I can do it even quicker and sometimes, you know, we've had to. You know, there was a kid I was working with who was uh in the hospital and and he was given like two weeks to live and then I met him on the two-week mark this was the date where he was supposed to not even be there.
JAMES:And like, how do you even you know that that room you walk in and there's this weight and heaviness that you can't even explain and it's, it's super scary for for the kids, for the family. You know they're like it could be any minute now, like how do you even comprehend something like that that your child is going through? Like it could be any minute now, like how do you even comprehend something like that that your child is going through? And so next thing, you know, my job is to bring light during some of that dark, dark time and next thing, you know, we start connecting.
JAMES:The parents are able to to be in the room and like figure out their plan, what they have to do. And then, next thing, you know, we're me and this little dude are jamming out about plan, what they have to do. And then, next thing, you know, we're me and this little dude are jamming out about, um, you know, the thing that he loved the most was, uh, the world's largest tractor, which is called big bud, which is the world's largest tractor in Montana. I knew nothing about tractors. I know, neither did I.
JAMES:And next thing you know, he's making the next country single of the of the year. Um, about this beautiful big bud tractor and how he wanted to drive it with his siblings and going collecting farm as the sun sets and collecting corn. It was just like beautiful and it totally distracted any heaviness or any weight from all that. And, yeah, um, yeah, but that we had to work, everyone had to pull in all, all, all hands on deck and we got that with back to him within, you know, 24 hours and the family got to like see him and his siblings like just as cartoon characters. You know, it was just, it was beautiful and hearing his song and but anyway, so it can take a long time. But and then, um, you know, when we try to, when there's kiddos that are that need that extra boost, where we try to bring their cartoon music videos to real life, that's where we make these larger productions and create props and bring the massive communities together.
BRANDI:Yeah, yes, and I want you to talk about that too, because I mean, there are like bands and like whole productions, like theater productions, and people that you have been able to bring together and get them as excited as you are about bringing these dreams to life for these kids. But how do you do that? That's another thing. What is your secret? Because I'm a people connector too, but you have just take it to another level with being able to bring the right people in and invite them to be part of this with you.
JAMES:Those are some of my most favorite things, because each one is like an act of faith of you don't know where this is going to go. Um, cause you, you have this idea of you want to bring this patient's uh, imagination to real life. But it's like how do you do that with? You know, how do you make a giant, life-size muffin head, or how do you make all these things? You know, um, and so then you just start knocking you know what I mean. You just start putting the leads out there and seeing what sticks.
JAMES:You get a lot of no's, but then you get a lot of yeses that are like wow, this is so much more than I could have ever imagined. Honestly, it comes down to faith and prayer. Honestly, like all of the stuff that I do would not work, and some of these things are honestly miraculous of like, wow, this is no way we should be working together with with this person. Or you know, I mean just recently on our, our production that we just are doing right now, I keep looking to the side because I literally have these giant I literally have in my office, like giant muffin heads staring at me. So it's like you know, there's no way to really
JAMES:explain actually what we're, what we're doing. But you know, these were, these were created by you know seven time Grammy winning designer named Marina, who's in California and just she, just amazing stuff. And so like, yeah, we get to work with you know full marching bands, the university of Michigan marching band learn patient song. We had Rutgers university learned his song. We have we've teamed up with opera singers, yeah, and all these people, the people who say yes, it's just absolutely beautiful because you get the all the right people that are all in.
JAMES:You know, marina, when we had a meeting again, I had sent emails to every single designer I could find and I heard back from nobody. And then, uh, when the time was right, months later happened to get an email back, um, after I'd gotten no's from all these other plans that we were going to do, um, and next thing, you know she's like I'm so sorry just seeing this. We need to, we need to make this happen. Next thing, we hop on a call her and her team of designers who they've made like their props that they make are like for, like Marvel and you know Hollywood movies. And next thing you know they're working their tails off to make massive life-size muffin heads for a patient who dreamed of this wild story about these. You know, burnt muffins that turn into that save the day.
JAMES:Yeah, there's all sorts of stuff. You'll have to see the video on that one. I can't even explain how that comes out, but it was just like. You know, you get all these wonderful, wonderful, big hearted people and I mean like you yourself. You you've connected so many people and you understand how important these kids are and it's like man, if you have a tiny connection, uh, it's worth a knock. And next thing, you know, we, yeah, it's just, yeah, it's beautiful every time, but every time it's an act of faith. I'll be like huh, you know, I have a goal of how this is going to happen and the results are always the same of like it's just beautiful for the family, the kid, the everybody I mean everyone involved. But yeah, it takes that knocking.
BRANDI:Yeah, for sure yeah. Or like, like my husband always says if you don't ask, you don't get exactly.
JAMES:But it's a hard ask. Every time, like I'm like on calls I'm like, so there's this muffin, uh what? And actually you know like when they say this, they're like, yeah, this was the best thing we've ever done in their whole career. You know like, we've had countless stories and we've worked with, you know, the Fast and the Furious. We've worked with the Nightmare Before Christmas movie directors. We've worked with, yeah, some of the most amazing folks have come out and all to help make an unforgettable memory for a child in need.
BRANDI:Yeah, absolutely so. Is there a video or a project that maybe you've recently worked on, or I guess in the past too? That was just really extra special.
JAMES:Yeah, I mean each one is is, each one is amazing and it like I mean I have a. I have a whole wall on the other side of me here of just all little keepsakes that I try to keep from each thing just because it reminds me and, honestly, it keeps me thinking of why I do this stuff and why I work so hard, because of the patients who unfortunately are not here anymore.
JAMES:Yet we have so many video footages and you can hear their laughter when you watch these videos and it's like, if I get, if we get that, if we get the capture, the laughter in the moments, it's like it's just absolute gold. And um, I mean one. I mean one that just happened recently was for a little girl named Kimber uh, and she's having a really hard time and she is normally in a wheelchair or on crutches or you know, because she's, she's going through, you know, she's not sure what's going on and how much time, and you know we planned this whole event for her. And next thing, you know she was having so much fun that she you know we designed it all to be, like, wheelchair friendly and accessible, just so that way it's no pain or anything.
JAMES:And she's like no way, I'm not getting in that way. Like no one could convince her to get in the wheelchair, she was like she wanted to find all these hidden clues that we had all around. We had three foot tall things of foam uh, you know, glow-in-the-dark foam. You know it was. There was so much stuff um. But yeah, when you get to see that that joy come to fruition, it's beautiful.
BRANDI:Yeah, and so that one you took, like this whole production team, brought everything to her right.
JAMES:Yeah, yeah, we had to pivot and pivot quickly and yeah, we had like that was like plan D, we had all these other plans ahead of time and then you just had to scrap all of it at a last minute notice and she's like let's go, everybody suit up up, bring it to the. We had her, her favorite nurse, actually end up suiting up in a giant unicorn costume and gave her all the clues we had hidden around.
BRANDI:It was, it was wild, so it was great. But to your point, with Kimber's video, I watched it a couple times and there were times where you could see her battle, but then you could see her clearly. Is was in a couple of those spots, just not in a good place, like you could see that pain and that she was going through. I can't imagine really connecting with these kids Like you form relationships with them and and you're really getting to know them and also you're seeing their joys and you're also seeing that pain and I, I, what do you? How do you? What keeps you going through that? When you're seeing these kids in pain, like what, just what do you tell yourself? Um, I guess to like try to get through some of these hard times, cause you probably feel like you're there, right there, with the kid and the parent.
JAMES:Oh, 100%. And I mean you can only imagine what they're going through. And my goal it just stays the same of like, how can I bring a little bit of laughter, a little bit of joy, a little bit of wow, you know? And yeah, it is terrible. There's a lot of, there's a lot of tears on our end over here. Um, you know a lot of the videos.
JAMES:We focus on showing the positive and showing the fun times that's happening, but like, behind the scenes you know what I mean You're bawling your eyes out because you get so close with these families. I mean we've been working with different folks with you. I mean even the patient that we just the, that we were working with to bring the muffin video to life. You know she had brain cancer and three days before our event she passed away. And then it's like you know, you're just shattered for their family. Um, and then you're like you know, what are you prepared to do now?
JAMES:And next thing, you know her family reaches out and is just like this means so much to us and it would be so much to amy. So like is it okay if we could just watch from the sidelines? And like, come, and it's just like this means so much to us and it would be so much to Amy. So like, is it okay if we could just watch from the sidelines and like, come and just watch how you do your process? And next thing, you know, there the whole room is filled with with tears and laughter. I mean there's no way you can not laugh and think of your child when you're wearing a giant, you know muffin hat. So it's just like it's's, it's really um, you know.
JAMES:And then her brother ended up being the main star of the whole video, wearing the thing he like suited up and like it was actually a really healing part of the grief process and now it preserves her legacy. Everyone's talking about their child again and then, like talking about them to these places, um, because they're like, why are you doing this, what's this? And then you get to share these stories of, of these incredible kids, kids, and I guess, yeah, I mean one day that's why I work so hard with children's cancer research I was like I want I believe in their mission of you know one day that there will be a cure for childhood cancer you know and and they fund all the research that that is happening which is going to find the cure.
JAMES:And my program, my little corner of it, is focused on in the meantime, while all that's, while all the research is happening and unfortunately takes a lot of time. You know, in the meantime my goal is to to bring that, that legacy preservation part, bring that fun, bring that positive distraction while they're going through. But yeah, like I said, it's a lot, it's a lot of tears, but what keeps me going is, yeah, you just get so close with each of the families, like there's no way that you can't do this, you have to. And, and you know my wife and our kids they're right, they're right in it with me and they're a great support system. And then again, you know, tying it all back to faith and prayer and like that's honestly been the root of how I'm able to continue and then to restart over and over and over again.
BRANDI:Yeah, yeah Well, thank you for the work that you're doing. You are truly creating the legacy of these kids for their families, for them to have as as memories, or just for these kids to look back on someday when they have survived, and say that was a hard part in my life and I got through it and you were a part of helping them get through that.
BRANDI:So, yeah, I think it's, it's just a wonderful thing. I love the program. So and I can't I'm I'm very sad now to hear about amy, but I really look forward to watching her her video now whenever you do release it. And oh yeah, we'll make sure to when this is released, we'll link that up for sure.
JAMES:So yeah, well, that's the thing too, like all these videos are then used for more awareness, more education about pediatric cancer. It's getting eyes of people that childhood cancer isn't on their radar, but now, all of a sudden it is and it's reaching them in a way that's totally attention grabbing and it's fun and joyful. It's also hard, um, you know, but that's like and like how you were raising money for the our virtual camp. Uh, you know camp Norden there as the virtual portion, it's for all the kids who can't attend in-person camp. We send them these beautiful boxes filled with activities and they get these VR headsets and they all get to meet each other. And that's some of the most beautiful things.
JAMES:That happens because all of a sudden, these kids who are alone and isolated in hospital rooms, now you're gaming, you're having fun with these, you're going fishing with each other, you're going, you know, and you just kind of give them the tools and watch them run and watch them like just light up, because some of these kids they were saying they haven't played with another kid, um, in person for like three years, you know, cause they're so immunocompromised, and it's like Whoa, but now you don't even, you don't even realize that you're playing laser tag. You're playing whatever you know, and and we're teaching them too, like during that camp, we're teaching them how to do 3d modeling, how do they design their own custom nike shoes that get sent to them and like.
BRANDI:There's all sorts of like you saw that?
JAMES:yeah, I know I did so and they all get to work together and like. And to that point, amy, that the, the, the girl who had passed on, she was part of the camp and she, like, made a massive impact on all the other campers because she was such a light, even though she was going through such hard things and she had brain cancer so it had taken away a lot of her ability to use, uh, one side of her body, so she was having trouble. One time, she, she was trying to figure out how to play this thing with everyone and next thing, you know, everyone's just. All the other kids are like bound together with her, like, no, amy, amy, you got this, like this is how you do it. And they're all coaching each other. And the next thing, you know, amy's figured it out and she's flying. She's all learned how to fly, she's flying.
BRANDI:Yeah.
JAMES:She's flying all around. Yeah, and it was just, it was beautiful. And then, same to that point of those, those custom shoes, ended up showing up to her house and she was so excited about what she created with all of her new friends, even though it was all virtual. She ends up getting those shoes on. And this girl, she hadn't been able to walk in like two years.
JAMES:And the mom showed the video of her walking again and like taking those steps, and it's like, oh wow, like that that served as a catalyst, for that positive distraction can take away a little bit of the pain because there's a greater thing after it. And it's like that's exactly what we're trying to do is we provide those positive distractions to uh and creative outlets to bring a little bit of that pain, um pain, away.
BRANDI:So, anyway, sorry for the rant. No, that's great, that's what we. I love hearing those things and that's what this is about. So sharing that for advocacy yeah, I'm so glad you brought up that it's. It's for the families and stuff too, but is it is so much as about advocacy as well, so to get other people involved with children's cancer research that have not been exposed to it Otherwise? It's just a different format or different way for exposure.
BRANDI:So well, I want to like ask you a serious question, james. I watch these videos of you and the kiddos and I just can't help but think though who's having more fun? You are the kids.
JAMES:I know it is a, it is um, it is a lot of fun. You know we get to. You know we have to, we have to dive in and we have to. You know we get to. You know we have to, we have to dive in and we have to. You know if, if I can have fun in this, I can, I have to put myself in the situation so that way I can make sure that this is going to be good for um, for for who we're working with. You know, um, but you know it's all just focused on on on that individual child and stuff Like I. I never had any of this stuff on my radar.
JAMES:You know I never thought about drift car racing or riding on penguins or dancing around in a muffin head, you know like that's never on my radar of things to do, but it just it's all about focusing on, like you know, how much fun and silliness can we bring to to this child and what's their interests. And then yeah, and then you have to fully commit to this thing.
JAMES:You know, you have to fully commit to running around a five-star resort wearing that massive, you know, muffin. Yeah, and it's contagious, though. You know what I mean. If you can have fun, then they can have fun, and there's no way you can't. When you see them lighting up and having a blast, it's like, oh, this is great, but it's a lot. It's like, oh, this is this is great, but it's it's, it's a lot. It's a lot of hard things that people don't see. You know, even just planning these, these are all like massive events that we're trying to plan with our, you know, in record timing and pulling just the unthinkable together. And when you watch some of these videos, you can, you can kind of see it and feel it.
JAMES:But that's the goal. Yeah, we bring the fun and inherently you can't not feel the fun in doing so, and hopefully that that transpires when you're watching the videos. Hopefully you feel the joy, but hopefully you also feel the weight of what we're doing.
BRANDI:So, yeah, yeah, well, they say laughter is the best medicine, and in this case it seems like it is for these kids no-transcript fun that she literally gets up and stands and starts smashing through the things and doing her game, and it was beautiful.
JAMES:And next thing, you know, like we're all trying not to cry, you know, like her cause they haven't seen her stand like that again, but it was like exactly what happened. You brought that silliness and laughter. I mean, she was riding down a mountain on the back of a llama, collecting pancakes was her thing, and she was having so much fun in that that she, you know she was standing and that's the last footage that we have of of of her. And you know she has siblings and a little sister and and you know, um, yeah, now, the family, they can, they, they would send me messages of, they, they would play her song every single morning, but her little sister would would ask to hear her, her, her, her song, um, every single morning, um, before she went to school. And you can hear her, her sister's, laughing and singing about, writing on the back of, uh, whatever, collecting pancakes. And it was like, you know, just so that we can hear her voice again. It's like, oh my gosh, and that's exactly what needs to happen.
JAMES:I would love to be not doing this anymore. I would love to one day. All these cures are happening and I can just do something else. I would love to not see and be in these really hard situations with kids who are fighting so hard. So that's where my hope is with Children's Cancer Research Fund, and I appreciate all your advocacy and all your fundraising that you've done, and even this podcast challenging people to make an impact. I think it's just amazing and it's exactly what needs to happen, because each one of us take our little gifts and skills and and look at what can happen from that. You know.
BRANDI:Yes, yep, exactly, and that's what I I want to know, like, if you're for people out there, what's your advice for how they can put their gifts and their skills to use to make an impact, like you have? What would your advice be?
JAMES:Yeah, I would. I think it comes down to use, to make an impact like you have. What would your advice be? Yeah, I would. I think it comes down to like seeing people, like seeing needs and then taking action on those needs. So, like you know, the people that I saw that there was, you know, pediatric cancer, it's a terrible, terrible thing, a terrible group of that's what they're going through. And then it's like, okay, well, how can we make a positive impact in that? And then you just start self-assessing what am I good at? What can I? I like to doodle, I like to. And next thing, you know, it starts creating this massive thing and this whole underground program and that that's a little grandiose. But I would.
JAMES:I almost think that that motto of seeing people and taking action, I think that can be applied to anyone. It doesn't have to be a large scaled program and stuff. It can be just you helping your neighbor, you helping a certain population group. I think that's really important. And even saying, yes, if you get a call from somebody talking about a muffin head and then needing help, you'd be like, oh, actually I can connect you with this, I know this for it, I know that. And then you know that's a form of using your gifts um to make a positive impact and it's like yeah. So I think, saying yes, seeing people taking action big or small ways, I think all that stuff ripples effects.
JAMES:I mean again, then none of this stuff was even on my radar when I was, when I was growing up, you know, before I was doing this, I was going to be a secret agent. That was like what I was, that's what I was trained to do, that's what I was like I was going to save the world from bad. You know I was. I was knowing my exits, memorizing all sorts of crazy things. And then, yeah, I just had a different plan after I had gotten a severe brain injury and then learned that all of a sudden, I could make brain injury and then learned that all of a sudden, I could make you know silly songs. I had to relearn how to talk again, you know. So there's a whole wild journey that got me to to hear but, um, yeah, so you never know what what, uh, your gifts will be?
BRANDI:Um, yeah, so yeah, well, I'm glad that you have these gifts and you're sharing them with Children's Cancer Research Fund and the families that are in this fight. So, yes, because I too believe that one day there's going to be no cancer. We don't want our kids to go through this. We want them to live long and healthy lives. So, james, thanks again for being here and sharing what you're doing. Where can people watch all these amazing videos that you've just shared?
JAMES:with us. Yeah, well, thank you for having me. It's been a blast and hopefully, uh, yeah, you almost need to watch some of these videos after this, so that way you really understand what in the world we're talking about. Uh, and the easiest way is to go to children's cancer research uh fund and you can find our our big dreams program, uh, with them and you can watch some of the some of the videos. But then there's also on Instagram is where it's most active. It's called lad in a battle and or on the children's cancer research fund page, and you'll see our stuff popping up there all the time of, yeah, some of these just larger than life productions and pure joy during really difficult times. So, yeah, you gotta. You gotta hear some of these songs. I mean these fair warning. So, yeah, you got to hear some of these songs. I mean fair warning. I mean these songs will get stuck in your head Like the songs that these kids are creating they're not just silly little things.
JAMES:These are like, these are hits. So you're moving, warren.
BRANDI:That's right. Thanks for the warning. So all right. Well, thanks, james.
JAMES:Thank you, brandy, good seeing you and yeah, we'll see you on the next event.
BRANDI:You've been listening to Act to Impact with Brandy DeVries. If this show ignited your fire and inspired you to take action to make an impact, please share this episode with a friend, leave a five-star review or write a review to let others know how the show impacted you. I can't wait to see the action you are taking to make an impact and I'd love for you to share that with our community. Go ahead and tag me on social media as you are out making an impact in the world. Do you have a story to share and want to be a guest on Act to Impact? I'd love to connect with you.