Ellen Ganson, 49, a co-founder of the Breast Cancer Silent Brick Auction, died Tuesday of breast cancer at her home.
She helped start the auction five years ago to raise awareness about the disease and money to find a cure. The idea was to take salvaged bricks and turn them into works of art that are then sold at a silent auction.
"We take these bricks that have been knocked down and bring them to life again," she told The Enquirer last year. "This is a metaphor for what every survivor experiences. By purchasing bricks, supporters are able to help us build a cure for the future."
Her efforts raised more than $100,000. Proceeds benefited the Greater Cincinnati Breast Cancer Alliance, the National Breast Cancer Coalition and Cancer Family Care.
Mrs. Ganson's idea has been copied by groups in other cities, according to her brother-in-law Howard Ain, WKRC-TV Channel 12 reporter. Ain served as master of ceremonies at the auction.
A native of Cincinnati, Mrs. Ganson was a graduate of Woodward High School. She received a bachelor's degree from Ohio State University and a master's degree in social work from Washington University in St. Louis, Mo. She had worked for the Hamilton County Court Clinic.
She discovered a lump in her breast in 1996. By then, the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes. She underwent a mastectomy and chemotherapy, then had her other breast removed to prevent the cancer's return. She was cancer free for more than seven years.
During that time, she remarked to her mother that chemotherapy felt like being hit with a ton of bricks. That's when she decided to sell decorated bricks to raise money and awareness. She called Marcia Levitas - an artist friend of her mother's - who painted between 15 and 20 bricks. Mrs. Ganson arranged to sell them through a beauty salon. They sold out on the first day.
Levitas called other artists who spread the word to more artists. Last year, 250 bricks were painted and auctioned - many by breast cancer survivors or friends and family members of women who died of breast cancer. One brick came from an artist in Israel. In 2003, one brick auctioned was decorated by two orangutans at the Cincinnati Zoo.
Raising money and awareness became Mrs. Ganson's cause. "I'm doing this for my children," she told The Enquirer in 2003. "I'm doing this because I want a cure to be found."
Last year, the brick auction was held at the Pendleton Arts Center. This year, Mrs. Ganson was too sick to organize the auction.
Ain said that the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation may take over the project.
Mrs. Ganson received the Breast Cancer Alliance Hope Award in 2000.
Survivors include her husband, Michael Ganson; her parents, Miriam and Dr. Leonard Bernstein; a sister, Susan Bernstein; two brothers, David and Jonathan Bernstein; two sons, Philip and Adam Ganson; and a daughter, Sarah Ganson
Cause of Death: Long battle with Breast Cancer.
She helped start the auction five years ago to raise awareness about the disease and money to find a cure. The idea was to take salvaged bricks and turn them into works of art that are then sold at a silent auction.
"We take these bricks that have been knocked down and bring them to life again," she told The Enquirer last year. "This is a metaphor for what every survivor experiences. By purchasing bricks, supporters are able to help us build a cure for the future."
Her efforts raised more than $100,000. Proceeds benefited the Greater Cincinnati Breast Cancer Alliance, the National Breast Cancer Coalition and Cancer Family Care.
Mrs. Ganson's idea has been copied by groups in other cities, according to her brother-in-law Howard Ain, WKRC-TV Channel 12 reporter. Ain served as master of ceremonies at the auction.
A native of Cincinnati, Mrs. Ganson was a graduate of Woodward High School. She received a bachelor's degree from Ohio State University and a master's degree in social work from Washington University in St. Louis, Mo. She had worked for the Hamilton County Court Clinic.
She discovered a lump in her breast in 1996. By then, the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes. She underwent a mastectomy and chemotherapy, then had her other breast removed to prevent the cancer's return. She was cancer free for more than seven years.
During that time, she remarked to her mother that chemotherapy felt like being hit with a ton of bricks. That's when she decided to sell decorated bricks to raise money and awareness. She called Marcia Levitas - an artist friend of her mother's - who painted between 15 and 20 bricks. Mrs. Ganson arranged to sell them through a beauty salon. They sold out on the first day.
Levitas called other artists who spread the word to more artists. Last year, 250 bricks were painted and auctioned - many by breast cancer survivors or friends and family members of women who died of breast cancer. One brick came from an artist in Israel. In 2003, one brick auctioned was decorated by two orangutans at the Cincinnati Zoo.
Raising money and awareness became Mrs. Ganson's cause. "I'm doing this for my children," she told The Enquirer in 2003. "I'm doing this because I want a cure to be found."
Last year, the brick auction was held at the Pendleton Arts Center. This year, Mrs. Ganson was too sick to organize the auction.
Ain said that the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation may take over the project.
Mrs. Ganson received the Breast Cancer Alliance Hope Award in 2000.
Survivors include her husband, Michael Ganson; her parents, Miriam and Dr. Leonard Bernstein; a sister, Susan Bernstein; two brothers, David and Jonathan Bernstein; two sons, Philip and Adam Ganson; and a daughter, Sarah Ganson
Cause of Death: Long battle with Breast Cancer.
Ellen Ganson, 49, a co-founder of the Breast Cancer Silent Brick Auction, died Tuesday of breast cancer at her home.
She helped start the auction five years ago to raise awareness about the disease and money to find a cure. The idea was to take salvaged bricks and turn them into works of art that are then sold at a silent auction.
"We take these bricks that have been knocked down and bring them to life again," she told The Enquirer last year. "This is a metaphor for what every survivor experiences. By purchasing bricks, supporters are able to help us build a cure for the future."
Her efforts raised more than $100,000. Proceeds benefited the Greater Cincinnati Breast Cancer Alliance, the National Breast Cancer Coalition and Cancer Family Care.
Mrs. Ganson's idea has been copied by groups in other cities, according to her brother-in-law Howard Ain, WKRC-TV Channel 12 reporter. Ain served as master of ceremonies at the auction.
A native of Cincinnati, Mrs. Ganson was a graduate of Woodward High School. She received a bachelor's degree from Ohio State University and a master's degree in social work from Washington University in St. Louis, Mo. She had worked for the Hamilton County Court Clinic.
She discovered a lump in her breast in 1996. By then, the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes. She underwent a mastectomy and chemotherapy, then had her other breast removed to prevent the cancer's return. She was cancer free for more than seven years.
During that time, she remarked to her mother that chemotherapy felt like being hit with a ton of bricks. That's when she decided to sell decorated bricks to raise money and awareness. She called Marcia Levitas - an artist friend of her mother's - who painted between 15 and 20 bricks. Mrs. Ganson arranged to sell them through a beauty salon. They sold out on the first day.
Levitas called other artists who spread the word to more artists. Last year, 250 bricks were painted and auctioned - many by breast cancer survivors or friends and family members of women who died of breast cancer. One brick came from an artist in Israel. In 2003, one brick auctioned was decorated by two orangutans at the Cincinnati Zoo.
Raising money and awareness became Mrs. Ganson's cause. "I'm doing this for my children," she told The Enquirer in 2003. "I'm doing this because I want a cure to be found."
Last year, the brick auction was held at the Pendleton Arts Center. This year, Mrs. Ganson was too sick to organize the auction.
Ain said that the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation may take over the project.
Mrs. Ganson received the Breast Cancer Alliance Hope Award in 2000.
Survivors include her husband, Michael Ganson; her parents, Miriam and Dr. Leonard Bernstein; a sister, Susan Bernstein; two brothers, David and Jonathan Bernstein; two sons, Philip and Adam Ganson; and a daughter, Sarah Ganson
Cause of Death: Long battle with Breast Cancer.
She helped start the auction five years ago to raise awareness about the disease and money to find a cure. The idea was to take salvaged bricks and turn them into works of art that are then sold at a silent auction.
"We take these bricks that have been knocked down and bring them to life again," she told The Enquirer last year. "This is a metaphor for what every survivor experiences. By purchasing bricks, supporters are able to help us build a cure for the future."
Her efforts raised more than $100,000. Proceeds benefited the Greater Cincinnati Breast Cancer Alliance, the National Breast Cancer Coalition and Cancer Family Care.
Mrs. Ganson's idea has been copied by groups in other cities, according to her brother-in-law Howard Ain, WKRC-TV Channel 12 reporter. Ain served as master of ceremonies at the auction.
A native of Cincinnati, Mrs. Ganson was a graduate of Woodward High School. She received a bachelor's degree from Ohio State University and a master's degree in social work from Washington University in St. Louis, Mo. She had worked for the Hamilton County Court Clinic.
She discovered a lump in her breast in 1996. By then, the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes. She underwent a mastectomy and chemotherapy, then had her other breast removed to prevent the cancer's return. She was cancer free for more than seven years.
During that time, she remarked to her mother that chemotherapy felt like being hit with a ton of bricks. That's when she decided to sell decorated bricks to raise money and awareness. She called Marcia Levitas - an artist friend of her mother's - who painted between 15 and 20 bricks. Mrs. Ganson arranged to sell them through a beauty salon. They sold out on the first day.
Levitas called other artists who spread the word to more artists. Last year, 250 bricks were painted and auctioned - many by breast cancer survivors or friends and family members of women who died of breast cancer. One brick came from an artist in Israel. In 2003, one brick auctioned was decorated by two orangutans at the Cincinnati Zoo.
Raising money and awareness became Mrs. Ganson's cause. "I'm doing this for my children," she told The Enquirer in 2003. "I'm doing this because I want a cure to be found."
Last year, the brick auction was held at the Pendleton Arts Center. This year, Mrs. Ganson was too sick to organize the auction.
Ain said that the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation may take over the project.
Mrs. Ganson received the Breast Cancer Alliance Hope Award in 2000.
Survivors include her husband, Michael Ganson; her parents, Miriam and Dr. Leonard Bernstein; a sister, Susan Bernstein; two brothers, David and Jonathan Bernstein; two sons, Philip and Adam Ganson; and a daughter, Sarah Ganson
Cause of Death: Long battle with Breast Cancer.
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