The foundation provides age-appropriate informational material in the form of entertaining CD's, DVDs and coloring books to help children diagnosed with cancer deal with the disease. The books chronicle the life of Ivan, a boy who's diagnosed with cancer, and his dog Sam, in a non-scary way that children can relate to.

This year, more than a thousand copies of the coloring book were given out along with companion CD's filled with original songs donated by some of Nashville's best artists and songwriters.

Billy's Wish and its founder, Maristone Senior Living CEO Karen Shayne, were recently profiled in the Gannett-owned newspaper-The Tennessean. The article can be read here.

Shayne announced the plans for two new books in 2010. The Journey is the story of Ivan's cancer diagnosis, treatment and recovery, and How Do I Tell My Child He Has Cancer? A DVD of The Journey is also expected to come out next year.

Shayne was also interviewed for a Sunday broadcast on Titan Radio's 103-WKDF and has scheduled 2010 media appearances to help spread the word about Billy's Wish.

Billy's Wish was recently renamed (it was formerly The Ivan and Sam Foundation) to honor Billy Apenowich from Bath, New York -- who waged a valiant but ultimately losing fight against malignant fibrous histiocytoma, a rare form of cancer.