Every year over 12,000 children are diagnosed with some form of cancer or malignant tumor. That means every hour, about two kids are getting the scariest news of their young lives. And it’s not just the kids who suffer. Everyone close to them must deal with the hardships such tragic news brings. Parents, siblings, cousins, schoolmates, neighborhood friends, and the list goes on and on.

We’re experiencing what it feels like to be part of that large number of caring individuals affected by such a diagnosis. Our friend and co-worker has a son named Nicolas. We call him Nico. He’s six years old, sharp as a tack, loves root beer and Angry Birds. In all respects, he’s a pretty normal (but incredible) little dude.

But back in March of this year, a potentially life-threatening tumor was discovered behind his eye. After a traumatic series of surgeries and a number of long hospital nights, Nico began chemo to help rid his body of the invasive growth. As many can understand, 6-year-olds don’t exactly know how to articulate the pain they feel … so they cry. As brave as Nico is, he is no exception. He struggles to walk, so he was given a wheelchair. He struggles to eat, so he was provided a feeding tube. His kidneys have started to malfunction, so a tube was surgically placed in his back to help them drain. The list goes on.

Because of the chemo and the many complications, Nico has been relatively isolated ever since he began treatment in an effort to minimize the chances of infection. This has perhaps been the hardest part for Nico to understand. From a young age, we begin to learn about pain. Touch a hot pan, and you get burned. But loneliness is an emotional pain that most adults aren’t even sure how to cope with, let alone a child. Through all of this, Nico’s loneliness been the greatest source of pain. No school. No friends. Some family. Occasional visitors. He doesn’t talk. He doesn’t play. He feels alone.

Enter Project Nico

We realized we have all the tools at our fingertips to try and help Nico feel a little less alone. The doctors may have the power to treat the tumors, but we have the power to cure his loneliness. Project Nico is our attempt to help Nico see how many people care about him, and hopefully help cover some medical costs. Even if you don’t know Nico personally, you probably know someone like him. Someone else who feels alone and isolated in their illnesses. Project Nico is a way of growing the family, of reaching out and showing him and others like him, just how much support they have.

So — we made these cool t-shirts. They’re simple, but the message they send is profound. As soon as you throw one on, you are telling Nico he has another friend. You’re helping cure the one thing the doctors can’t. And if you know someone in Nico’s same position, get them a shirt too! The bigger the family, the better. Show Nico he’s not alone. Post a picture of yourself wearing the shirt on the Project NICO Facebook page. We’ll make sure he sees it.

As you can imagine, 100% of the profits from Project NICO will go to him and his family, a small gesture to help with the mounting medical and travel expenses. Our friends at The Logo Shop in Logan, Utah are donating the printing costs and helping in a big way. Nico’s friends and family are spreading the word in every way possible. Now it’s your turn.

We wish we could help everyone suffering in this way, but for now we’re starting with Nico. If you help us make this a success we may have the chance to turn this into something much larger, helping cure loneliness all over the country.

Help Nico and make a tangible difference. This family has no boundaries.