The Layered Symbolism Behind M44’s Logo
What Grabbed Me
Shortly after I made the life-altering decision to move ahead with MoreFor4, Inc., I needed to start creating structure, strategy documents, and… of course… branded materials. In fact, I seem to recall that designing our logo was one of the very first things I did, immediately after we settled on our Mission and Vision statements. And, that we would use “M44” as shorthand for our nonprofit entity. (Incidentally, we still say “MoreFor4” when reading M44 out loud.)
I had no preconceived ideas about what our logo would “be” or even what our organizational (branded) “colors” would/should be. For a long time, I have personally gravitated toward shades of blue and green—for what these colors typically represent with regard to growth, healing, trust, serenity, etc., yet I didn’t set out with those colors in mind for M44. Truly, I was open to what “came to me” during this process. It was more of a “gut thing.” A heart thing. Creative exploration fully at work.
Taking my first stab at logo design (for M44), I decided to see if any stock photos might give me a starting point; something I could perhaps alter to make it our own. I kept coming back to something I found online that did end up becoming the foundation of M44’s logo.
Luck of The Irish…
I was raised in a culture heavily steeped in (even obsessive) pride about our Irish heritage. It was everywhere, including growing up in an Irish Catholic FDNY family with a great love for bagpipes and “Danny Boy” as a cherished and sacred anthem. And during my senior year, I played “Og, The Leprechaun” in our high school musical production of “Finian’s Rainbow.”
(I view and played Og as the real hero of the story—as he selflessly gave up his magical powers and remaining a leprechaun, thereby becoming fully mortal, in order to use the very last available wish on the crock of gold to save the life of another.)
That show, an amazing experience in that year of my life, sparked my compulsive collection of all things Irish; i.e., pictures and household décor related to pots of gold, leprechauns, shamrocks and four-leaf clovers, Belleek China, and, of course, rainbows. That continues to this day. (And I STILL have my plastic leprechaun ears!)
Do We Really Want to Associate Cancer… and M44… With Luck?
When I first came across this photo, it spoke to me immediately. I suppose that only makes sense based on what I just told you about my background and things that historically brought/bring me joy. For as much as I stayed open to other options for what M44’s logo would look like, I kept coming back to this image.
I shared this initial photo with Karen Edsell, my dear friend and our very first M44 Board member. Right away, she questioned the color and “shamrock”—in terms of equating our work in any way with “LUCK.” And I agreed with her that maybe it DID have too much of an Irish feel—especially in GREEN. While that fits me perfectly on a PERSONAL level, I knew we needed something different for M44 that has no connection to a particular culture or heritage. But her questions about “luck” prompted me to do a little more research on shamrocks and four-leaf clovers, the differences between the two, folklore behind them, and potential relevance to a new nonprofit organization such as ours. That research further convinced me that I had to figure out how to modify this original picture for our purposes, and to be very clear about how we view “luck” or good fortune in the context of cancer and M44.
I decided that the GREEN version will be used for a logo for my upcoming podcast show, CancerAside. THAT endeavor—unlike M44—WILL be about my individual story, particular world view, and personal/professional opinions and insights on everything from politics to relationships. By the way, CancerAside will be a separate entity from M44 since I fully expect discussions with guests to venture into territory that is off-limits for nonprofits; i.e., politics especially. Conversely, M44 WILL have a podcast show (currently unnamed) that will strictly comply with legal/IRS tax rules for 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations.
Shamrocks vs. Four-Leaf Clovers
Shamrocks and four-leaf clovers are often confused due to their similar appearance, but they are botanically distinct. Starting with the obvious, shamrocks have three leaves while the four-leaf clover, as the name indicates, has four. Additionally, the four-leaf clover is of the same species as the shamrock, but it is a MUTATION found only once in about 5,000 clovers. It is RARE, just like M44.
As most people know, the shamrock is a symbol with cultural significance in Ireland, often associated with St. Patrick’s Day and representing the Holy Trinity in Christian tradition, and used as the national emblem. Conversely, for centuries, four-leaf clovers have been considered symbols of good luck (and good fortune) in various cultures, with each leaf representing something different: Faith, Hope, Love, and Luck.
Delving into the ancient Celtic traditions of the British Isles unveils a profound connection between the four-leaf clover and spiritual beliefs. The Druids, the learned class of ancient Celtic society, believed that finding a four-leaf clover could open portals to otherworldly realms, acting as a conduit for spiritual energy and connection with the divine—offering protection against malevolent spirits.
In the East, particularly in Asian cultures, the four-leaf clover is valued for more than its rarity. In Japan, it is considered a symbol of protection against evil spirits, akin to its role in Irish folklore. Similarly, in China, where the number four is associated with luck, the four-leaf clover is viewed as a charm that brings good fortune and positive energy.
Beyond its spiritual connotations, the four-leaf clover’s symbolism extends to a connection with nature’s rhythms. Its rarity reinforces the idea that the universe is full of unique wonders waiting to be discovered. (Like a cure for cancer!!!) This perspective aligns with spiritual beliefs emphasizing the interconnectedness of all living things.
In conclusion, the four-leaf clover transcends religious/spiritual and cultural boundaries, as diverse communities view it as a symbol of auspicious beginnings. Its rich symbolism in spiritual beliefs and folklore spans across peoples, emphasizing the interconnectedness of humanity’s diverse beliefs and the universal pursuit of luck, protection, and positive energy. And, the rarity of the four-leaf clover serves as a reminder that the most profound spiritual connections can often be found in the simplest of things.
(PS: There are also claims online that clover has medicinal properties.)
How Faith, Hope, Love, and Luck Connects to M44’s Mission
FAITH
At M44, we have faith in each other, and our collective ability to Take Charge and Make Change. We embrace the interconnectedness of humanity and that, like the elusive four-leaf clover, profound connections and support can be found in unexpected places—especially within the folds of intentional community.
We also have unyielding FAITH in researchers, oncologists and other oncology health professionals, and patient advocates as they continue moving the needle toward less toxic cancer treatments, more treatment options, and, ultimately, a cure for this devastating disease. In LIVING this FAITH, M44 will proactively support these endeavors in any way we can through both strategic partnerships and directly mobilizing the M44 community to engage in impactful, coordinated patient-advocacy initiatives.
Likewise, we have faith in THIS: “Build it and they will come.” We trust that everything M44 needs with regard to financial resources and other forms of support will surface and allow us to reach our aims. Sure, it will take hard work. But we have FAITH that our needs will, indeed, be met. And, as M44 attracts this critical support, we can extend help to members of our community who are experiencing financial and other difficulties. With that, we faithfully march forward with courage, passion, and unwavering resolve.
HOPE
At the core of MoreFor4’s vision lies the essence of hope. With its obvious connection to FAITH and our commitment to Taking Charge and Making Change, M44 will offer programs for the entire Stage IV community—with elevated emphasis on supporting individuals who have not been able to find fiscal and other solutions to their many unmet needs. Programming such as CannaCares, Rapid Response, HomeMatters, IMAGINE, and MoreCorps is aimed at improving/maximizing quality of life. Therefore, M44 aims to introduce HOPE for a better life, regardless of a person’s remaining expected lifespan. As it is difficult to maintain hope when you lack financial and other needed resources, M44 seeks to alter the present patient support landscape.
For today, M44 wants to instill HOPE that solutions are coming. And we are working as quickly as possible to bring answers to those who most need them. Once we are fully up and running, M44 will strive to become and remain a steadfast beacon of hope for the Stage IV community.
LOVE
Love is a powerful force that transcends boundaries, and this concept is woven into the very fabric of MoreFor4, Inc. We will create, sustain, and grow a community founded on compassion, belonging, understanding, diversity, full inclusion, affirmation, and shared humanity.
Beyond the stand-alone symbolism of the four-leaf clover within our logo, the foundational heart shape made it perfect for us. LOVE for each other. It’s the driving force behind M44’s Mission and everything we do. It’s why we are here.
LUCK
Returning to the somewhat delicate concept of “LUCK” in the context of Stage IV cancers, M44 acknowledges the reality that personal health outcomes are largely outside our control—as is the case with much of what life may bring our way. And this seems a good place and time to bring up something that some people within the Stage IV community DO need to hear. It is something I have not yet said in M44 videos, elsewhere on our website, or other materials.
M44 was predominantly created to support Stage IV cancer patients who are being treated with palliative, rather than curative, intent. Meaning that, for most of us, we will live with our cancer for the rest of our lives. With that said, we do not mean to suggest that NOBODY can reach complete remission (and never have the cancer return) after a Stage IV diagnosis. Some people do, although across the broader Stage IV community, this may be as rare as the four-leaf clover. Many of us are living with incurable cancers, as of today’s science, such as Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC)—which is my personal cancer type.
While there is no such thing as a “GOOD” cancer, some of us are luck-IER with cancer types and subtypes. There is a good douse of luck involved in whether our unique cancer responds to treatment and how long we may stay on a drug before our cancer figures out how to work around that protocol, whether researchers unlocked at least enough keys to our particular cancer type (and mutations) to have available treatments and more than one option for treatment, and so forth. So, yes, luck does come into play with what we face. (And this is also why M44 wholly rejects the use of battle, war, and warrior language in connection to cancer treatment and outcomes.)
Nonetheless, we at M44 do think we need to MAKE some of our luck. For instance, our social justice arm—JEDI Action—will engage in the continued fight for sufficient research funding investments as well as things like reducing drug costs and ensuring equitable access to care (and clinical trial participation). We don’t expect these things to happen without advocates making a lot of productive noise. And we refuse to leave a cure for cancer—or at VERY least making it a TRULY chronic, non-life-threatening disease as a first goal—down to luck. Although, in my discussions with several researchers, sometimes what they learn in the lab IS due to luck, as findings may totally exceed expectations or point them in a whole new direction.
As an example, in early pre-clinical trial studies on ErSO (next called SERA2 and now called TEQ103), they thought it was lab error when it showed that the compound fully eradicated ER+ breast cancer metastasis in mice in just 7 days. Needless to say, I’ve been keeping a close eye on this particular compound and eagerly await the start of human clinical trials. And, coming back to LUCK… I hope this compound works as well in humans as it does in animal subjects… and that a treatment becomes available in time for those of us who hang our hopes on this kind of breakthrough; one that will someday make life-long, toxic cancer treatment (and, of course, DYING of cancer) a thing of the past. So, what I am saying is… there is also luck in timing.
At the same time, we do hope that people will feel lucky to have found the M44 community and to receive assistance/programming they could not find anywhere else. For all the strife that cancer brings, most would agree that meeting people who are traveling a similar path is a hidden blessing in this otherwise difficult experience. It gets us through. Finding each other takes work/effort, but maybe there is also a component of LUCK to it. Not just in finding M44, but certain people within our expanded community that become trusted allies and friends. Those folks that ease our way, and routinely remind us that we are seen, heard, and loved.
This is About All of Us
As MoreFor4, Inc. begins our quest, we wholly embrace the symbolism of the four-leaf clover—and a belief that Faith, Hope, Love, and Luck are intricately intertwined. With each M44 program and creative solution, as well as our ever-expandable table where all are welcomed and embraced, we shall weave a living tapestry reflective of our organization’s Mission and Values. Through intentional community and M44’s unique approach, we will set the stage where the rarest and most impactful possibilities can flourish.
While M44’s logo design began with something that spoke to me personally, it evolved. The colors of the final version include shades from the Metastatic Breast Cancer ribbon (with NO PINK!), but, like M44 as a whole, it was never intended to reflect just one cancer type. You will even notice in our M44 Shop that we intentionally designed products with colors associated with various cancers. Certainly, we have to be mindful of what looks visually appealing in terms of complementary colors that do not clash, but every action we take as an organization is with belonging in mind. Connected to this, we hope people will purchase M44 Shop products because of what our logo REPRESENTS—Faith, Hope, Love, and Luck. In other words, if you wear a M44 T-shirt with our logo on it, we want you to think of us when you put that shirt on… and remember in that moment, and every moment where you may need that reminder, that you are absolutely NOT ALONE. M44 is with you every step of the way.
In sum, M44 is not about me. It never will be. It is about our collective community—Taking Charge and Making Change. With all that said, I do hope M44 will continue to use this logo even after I am no longer here (physically)—as it is a subtle way in which I can stay with you always. Yes, this logo has personal significance for me, as I think of it as a visual representation of all I stand for. For that, this logo IS me. But it is so much more. It is YOU, too.
Sending You Love & Light,
Mary Cos
About
