In memory of Courtesan DeCuir

As the various events for The Relay for Life for 2012 get ready to kick off I would like to share this story with you.

In 2007 one Courtesan DeCuir arrived in Second Life. Courtesan DeCuir who had been a prior cancer survivor took Relay for Life very seriously. One year she did a tribute as her music Idol “Martina McBride” during Relay for Life to help those who were in need and another time we heard Courtesan speak once more through Martina McBride in the words of her release “I’m Gonna Love You Through It”.

Now it's forced smiles and baggy shirts

To hide what the cancer took from her

But she just wants to feel like a woman again

She said, "I don't think I can do this anymore"

He took her in his arms and said “That's what my love is for”

In her time in SL, Courtesan met and eventually married Ortho Vargas. Courtesans’ impact on Ortho was immediate. She mentioned to her friends that her greatest moment was when he took a picture of her hair and with that image he created the REDHEAD.

On the very last day of Relay for Life 2011, Courtesan DeCuir passed away from a brief illness. Her loss has transcended friendship and family.

The team at JCS decided to dedicate the ‘Devoted to a Cure’ logo for the 2012 Relay for Life to her.

The BASS GUITAR is the BC RICH READHEAD. The original graphic in the guitar is of Courtesans hair.

The Four Strings signify the four years Courtesan blessed us with her presence. 2007 to 2011. Each year symbolizing a year. The wings signify her Transition and Ascension into heaven. At the very top behind the neck of the Guitar you will see a heart; the shadows mean that she continues to reach out to everyone. You will also notice two streaks of water; the first streak is to remind us of the tears shed when we learned she had passed away. The Second streak is for the tears shed on the day of her memorial. Behind the wings are linked music notes. These represent the harmony Ortho and Courtesan shared with one another and to remind us of the music that brought them together.

The connected circles you see are really a C and an O = Courtesan and Ortho.

And finally the last partially filled in circle is called the circle of life. JCS believe that it takes a lifetime to really get to know someone, especially when that person accepts your hand and agrees to share that lifetime with you. They also feel that Courtesan was taken away too soon. So they left this circle partially unfinished to remind us all, just how precious life truly is.

Please, if you have the means, give to Relay for Life. No one is promised tomorrow. Only with your help can we give hope to those that are still trying to complete their Circle of Life.

Dedicated to Courtesan DeCuir by

Johnathan Hiess, Jenna Coppola, Tari Ember and the Entire JCS Family