• By ELLYN COUVILLION
• Advocate staff writer
• Published: Jul 23, 2010 - Page: 1D

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Ryan Hamner, of Georgia, a musician and cancer survivor, sang his heart out recently in the lobby of the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center.

Hamner, who’s taking a tour called “Hear the Heart” to cancer centers across the country this summer, quietly plugged in his electronic musical equipment in a corner of the lobby, on a June afternoon.

“Hello, everybody. I’m here with the ‘Hear the Heart’ tour. I’m a survivor. Thanks for hanging out with me,” he said, by way of introduction.

As he sang original songs from his new album, “Between the Lines,” and played his acoustic guitar, cancer patients sat nearby, waiting to be called for their appointments.

Some turned their heads to watch Hamner; one patient tapped out the rhythms with his hand. Others sat quietly looking ahead.

The lack of outward response didn’t phase Hamner.

“I personally remember when I was going through treatment, how you feel … just not feeling well,” he said.

“The purpose of the tour is to support (patients), to be something you can look forward to,” Hamner said.

The music didn’t go unappreciated.

After Hamner’s 45-minute performance, Doris Newsome, who had come with her husband for his treatment for throat cancer, said of Hamner’s music, “It’s refreshing and soothing.”

“This is uplifting,” she said.

Hamner’s one-man tour is currently scheduled for 15 cities in eight states through July and may grow beyond that, he said. 

The tour is being sponsored by the nonprofit organization HopeLab.