COMFORT. CARE. CURE.

By MARIANNE BANE | Photos by OWEN SINGER

Some stories begin quietly, with a moment so ordinary it almost slips by unnoticed. For 16-year-old Owen Singer, the spark behind CancerKicks.org began with a pair of pink tennis shoes and a cozy blanket.

They were simple things—soft, bright, and comforting—but for Owen’s mom, who was facing yet another round of breast cancer treatment, they became something much more: armor, encouragement, and a steady reminder that she wasn’t walking into that infusion room alone.

Owen saw that. He felt it. And while most teenagers wouldn’t know how to respond to something as overwhelming as a parent’s cancer battle, Owen did what few his age even imagine: he turned love into action.

He asked himself a question many adults never consider:
What if I could help someone else feel less alone?

That question became a mission.
The mission became CancerKicks.

Today, every item he designs and sells—hoodies, tees, blankets—funnels 100% of its profits to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, supporting research that could one day end the disease his family has faced up close.

Along the way, Owen has created deeply meaningful moments, including designing custom shirts for Team Salura, named for his mom. The double-heart logo was inspired by the temporary tattoos his family wore the day she began chemo, a symbol she later had permanently tattooed on her wrist.

Running a growing charity hasn’t been easy, but Owen says the biggest lessons have been perseverance and gratitude. Through planning meetings, production challenges, and balancing school, one thing has remained constant: the unwavering support of his family, especially his mom, whose strength he calls his greatest inspiration.

As the new year begins, Owen hopes his story encourages other teens to believe in their ability to make an impact. “You don’t need a degree or a big team,” he says. “You just need a mission and the perseverance to start.”

Looking ahead, CancerKicks is expanding corporate partnerships and building its social media presence to reach more families and supporters. And when Owen isn’t working on the charity, you’ll likely find him on a family vacation or back on the basketball court, coaching, reffing, or returning to play once his knee fully heals.

Three words capture everything he aims to do: Comfort. Care. Cure.

And with the heart he brings to this mission, Owen is already making all three a reality.