When Bob Carey discovered his wife, Linda, was diagnosed with breast cancer his reaction was far from ordinary: he donned a pink tutu and embarked on a one-man mission to make his wife laugh during her chemotherapy.
Linda was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003, following the couple’s move from Arizona to New York.
What inspires you to hang on right when you need to most? #tutuproject#inspire#BCStrongpic.twitter.com/KJfPPx4ARR
— The Tutu Project (@TheTutuProject) December 7, 2013
“After Linda was diagnosed, that’s when I went into self-therapy mode. I grabbed a tutu and we went out and started making pictures,” said Bob, a professional photographer, to Deutscher Telekom. He began to take pictures of himself clad only in a pink tutu in different locations to keep his wife’s spirits up during chemo.
Linda even took the photos to the hospital with her to show the other patients the aspiring ballerina.
“It makes me laugh, it helps me keep positive,” says Linda, adding the effect is like “when a superhero puts on the cape.”
Wow! #BlackFriday at #TutuProject! NYC Photos for special price tx to @MashStudioNYChttp://t.co/GcyZuAUSpepic.twitter.com/4g7l4WqTZY
— The Tutu Project (@TheTutuProject) November 28, 2013
Bob’s photos were so popular that the couple decided to found ‘The Tutu Project.’ As part of the initiative, he embarked on a journey around the US and to different countries, taking photos of himself in his pink tutu to contribute to the ‘Ballerina book.’ Bob has braved rain, snow and freezing temperatures to raise awareness for breast cancer sufferers.
RT’s video agency, Ruptly, caught up with the budding ballerina during his visit to Germany’s Brandenburg Gate on Monday.
“To me, it's just recording my feelings. You know it started out as self-therapy and helping myself, but now it's about helping others and raising awareness and ultimately helping women going through horrible times of their life,” said Carey taking a breather after jumping up and down in front of the Brandenburg Gate for photos.
Bob has already sold 3,000 of the 5,000 books he has printed, donating the proceeds to The Carey Foundation which was formed at the same time of The Tutu Project.
I saw the big bloated dead rat floating in the water. At that point I was DONE with THIS shot! http://t.co/e38lw171LXpic.twitter.com/hO3D1NflO2
— The Tutu Project (@TheTutuProject) November 1, 2013
Palm Beach, Florida. 2013 #PalmBeach#FL#Beachpic.twitter.com/pL83Cwf7TV
— The Tutu Project (@TheTutuProject) May 28, 2013