This year in U.S., more than 43,300 women will die and more than 211,000 will be diagnosed with breast cancer at the rate of 1 every 3 minutes. One women in eight either has or will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. However, this is a disease that is not exclusive to women. In the U.S. alone, more than 400 men will die this year while another 600 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer.

What does all of this mean? It means for myself and many others, breast cancer either is already or will become personal, this year. For me it has started already with the loss of my Mother on April 1, 2005, as well as my maternal Grandmother June 20, 2003. The reality for me also means that my sister's and myself have an increased risk of breast cancer 5 fold that of the average person due to our family history.

What does all this have to do with a computer modding? Anyone who takes a look around the PimpRig Community will notice many things. One of those being the love for modding a computer into something personal, meaningful and special. An object that is made of components, metal, plastic, glass, paint, etcetera but it becomes a piece of art. It becomes a statement about the person who has spent many hours on all the elements of it's construction. It becomes a labor of love.

How do breast cancer and modding go together? Well till now they have not, but that is about to change.

After doing my first mod I wanted to come up with a case that would be different. Once pondering on all the ideas for a mod, I kept thinking of my Mom. Thought it would a fitting tribute to do something relating back to her. She loved art, sewing, cooking, reading and helping others. Mom was always enjoyed creating things, and sharing them with others. Guess that is where my sisters and I get it from. Mom also liked that I voluteered for a local cancer organization. So all these things started to merge into one idea. Why not mod a case with the breast cancer theme, then auction it off to raise money for charity?

Needing a more experienced opinion on the idea I turned to my fellow staffers of PimpRig.com. When I ran this idea by the PR Staff they more than encouraging. They were downright excited, and matched my enthusiasim. Glitterkill the site admin, offered to have the project endorsed by PimpRig. Then came the staff offers of help in ideas that I could never have come up with alone, and the good news did not stop there. Pimprig and many others from around the PC modding circles also ponied up more help, products, advice and services.

This project is no longer just me, but all these wonderful people who have stepped up to contribute. Now here we all are setting out on our joint venture to create a computer case mod second to none. A one of a kind case created from the huge hearts of the PC modding community, to give to charity via auction on Ebay.

All the procedes of the auction go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation: Tidewater Affiliate. The Komen Foundation was founded by Nancy Goodman Brinker. Her sister, Susan Goodman Komen, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1978, a time when little was known about the disease and it was rarely discussed in public. Before she died at the age of 36, Suzy asked her sister to do everything possible to bring an end to breast cancer. Nancy kept her promise by establishing the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation in 1982 in SuzyÂ’s memory.

Through the Komen's support of innovative research and community based outreach programs it has been a global leader in the fight against breast cancer. Working through a network of U.S. and international Affiliates with events like the Komen Race for the Cure®, the Komen Foundation is fighting to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease by funding research grants and supporting education, screening and treatment projects in communities around the world.

We also realize that not everyone can or will want to participate in the auction bidding. In that case we will provide a direct donation link to the Komen Foundation, and the Komen Foundation:Tidewater Affiliate. Those donations are just as important, and will help our cause just as much.

The project worklog can be seen right here at PimpRig. With each step of the mod progress we will post pictures, and all the specs. The equipment and services will all be tallyed as we go along as well. This will be in the interest of the completion, and eventual auction of the case.

That will give the bidders a chance to see what they are getting in the Case for Hope. But of course the pieces and parts are not the only value of this one of a kind item. It is the love, caring, sharing and hope that come in the form of a kicking state of the art PC!

Won't you please join us in the fight against breast cancer? Our project is simply called,
A Case for Hope: A PimpRig Community Project

All the contributors will be listed in the worklog, but here are a list of those who have already joined the team:

Contributors of Donated Supplies/Services:
PimpRig - PC Hardware Modding, Reviews and News

MNPCTech - Pro Case Modding & Supplies

Intel - Leader in Technology

DragonModz - Original Modding accesories by Modders for Modders

VoyeurMods - Full Service Mod Shop & Accesories

Tiger Direct - The best computer and electronics deals anywhere!

Joel "pimp joose" Hluszko - In Memoriam of his mother, Jacqueline Cessna, 1950-2004

ACRyan: Modding products & supplies specialist

Sapphire Technology: Invoke Your Imagination

Sunbeam 20-in-1 Panel : PimpRig.com and Sunbeam

Case by Lian Li : PimpRig.com and Lian Li

Hiper Type-R 580W Power Supply (N. AMerican Version) : PimpRig.com and Hiper

MNPCTech: Case Handles

Intel: 945 chipset and a Pentium D 820 CPU (Dual core 2.8 GHz CPU)

DragonModz : Lighting & Painting Expertise

VoyeurMods: Laser Window Etch

Corsair: 1GB Kit of PC5400 Pro RAM

ACRyan: Cables, wiring

Tiger Direct - Plextor Plextor PX-716A/SW & Hitachi 250GB SATA-II Hard Drive

Joel "pimp joose" Hluszko - WinXP SP2 OS

hiruko13: Custom made fan grill covers from a PR member

Sapphire Technology: X800 GTO2 Video Card

PimpRig Logitech Cordless MX 3000

And we're off!

Awesome. Im so glad to see all these great people come together for such a great cause. I cant wait to see the progress. Let me know If you need anything.

Let me know if you need anything from the Mod Garage..................

It will be interesting to see how this will turn out.

Thanks guys for the interest, and I am sure the whole community will have put it's touches on this mod at one point or another.

Here are some pics of the items that will be in the case so far:

Sunbeam 20 -n- 1 Panel
Review



The Lian-Li 6070 Plus Case
Review



The Hiper Type R 580W PSU in Red (especially for this mod)
Review



The handles from MNPCTech.com





Will post more detailed idea for the case design soon.

With the mad skills that people on this site have.....this is going to be one sweet machine.





Que's Public Service Announcement:
I had my 1st mammogram recently & I have to go back for a 2nd because of some "shadows" on the first one. Could be nothing, could be something. If you are due for a mammogram, prostate check - whatever it is - pick up the phone, get is scheduled and stop being a wuss about it.

Foe, this is an excellent idea that's obvious coming to reality. If you need anything at all, don't hesitate to ask. I'll be keeping an eye on this one.

sweeeet, so excited, i cant wait to see what kind of awsome case can be produced by such a gathering of great modders

I was saving this for my upcoming mod but ill let you have it. How about one of those breast cancer ribbons cut out of sheet aluminum then polish it. To attach it to the sidepanel you could use some mobo stand offs and some Dragonmodz hardware to attach it. This way its raised off the side panel. I think it would look sweet.

I know what the plan is for the front, but your idea is intriguing. I could see that on the lower front with stand-off's. Instead of polished I see a nicely shaded Pink and Black airbrush scheme.

Foe is the creative force here though. This is her baby to design and the sponsors and contributors bow to her wishes.

The design ideas are being gathered, and will be posted soon. Then we will ask for opinions on what we should keep, and what to drop, or add from the community. With such an awesome case it is hard to decide how far to mod it.

So Capt Planet, please hang on to that thought, and we will put it into the idea list.Thank you so much for offering this terrific idea! Like BA I think it would look good, and add a nice touch to the case.

I have brand-new keyboard and mouse to contribute .... but they say DELL on them. Still want 'em?

Also maybe a list of what we still need is in order?

-MF

Quote: Originally Posted by Monsignor Funkibut I have brand-new keyboard and mouse to contribute .... but they say DELL on them. Still want 'em? Also maybe a list of what we still need is in order? -MF

Very kind of you to offer MF. Not sure yet on the route we are taking on the peripherals. As I said we are working on the case design ideas still. If you don't mind, hang onto those just in case we need them?
Thanks again for the offer!

Quote: Originally Posted by Que_66 Que's Public Service Announcement: I had my 1st mammogram recently & I have to go back for a 2nd because of some "shadows" on the first one. Could be nothing, could be something. If you are due for a mammogram, prostate check - whatever it is - pick up the phone, get is scheduled and stop being a wuss about it.

Good Luck with that.

Sounds like a pretty sweet mod there Foe.

If you all only knew how dear of a project this is for Foe. I'm sure we all know of a friend or family member who has suffered through this or something as bad. All creativity, time, materials, etcetera are extremely appreciated and go to a great cause.

I will donate all shipping/handling costs revolving around this project. I will happily pay via PayPal any and all costs to ship the case or pieces of the case for modding/painting. As the project progresses, please feel free to bump me for ALL S/H. This means all shipping to and from modders, all inclusive.

/Splitter

Quote: Originally Posted by Splitter If you all only knew how dear of a project this is for Foe. I'm sure we all know of a friend or family member who has suffered through this or something as bad. All creativity, time, materials, etcetera are extremely appreciated and go to a great cause. I will donate all shipping/handling costs revolving around this project. I will happily pay via PayPal any and all costs to ship the case or pieces of the case for modding/painting. As the project progresses, please feel free to bump me for ALL S/H. This means all shipping to and from modders, all inclusive. /Splitter

That's mighty generous of you Splitter. You realize that some stuff may run up to $40?

Quote: Originally Posted by BigAkita That's mighty generous of you Splitter. You realize that some stuff may run up to $40?

No worries Akita, it is well worth the expense.

This is a very noble cause. I wish my rich uncle would get out of the poor house so I could help out some.
I haven't had anyone close to me have any sort of confrontation with breast cancer, but quite a few members of my family, and close people to my family had incodents with various forms of cancer.

It's touching to see people get involved like this, and Splitter your helping out is going to be a lot of help.

Best wishes on the project, hope everything goes well!

I am 100% behind Foe on this project. As someone who has had breast cancer affect their lives by causing the death of two of my close relatives I thoroughly support the foundation. I will be doing my best to stir up more support for the project.

Way to go Foe!

Well, I'm folding now..........