As many families know, cancer is not a battle fought by one person. It affects everyone in the family, friends and coworkers.

According to the Huffington Post, one man, Ralph Kapostins, had his toenails painted purple in an attempt to cheer up his wife who was diagnosed with lung cancer. It worked.

His wife, Valerie Brosdal, liked the idea so much she posted a photo on Facebook and encouraged others to paint their toenails to show support for lung cancer research.

The idea has taken off on social media.

So far, Ralph told NBC, about 400 people — “good friends, complete strangers, women, men, kids, entire families and pets, including dogs, cats and even a couple of horses” — have shared photos.

A friend of the couple is working on a living mural of photos shared on social media.