Question:  What is Love, Light, and Hope National Day of Yoga & Meditation?

Answer: On November 15, 2023, we are thrilled to bring together a community of friends, supporters, mission partners, and yoga lovers from all over the country for Cancer Hope Network’s Love, Light, and Hope (LLH) National Day of Yoga & Meditation.

We are delighted to be working with our amazing lead yoga instructor, Brittany Torstrup, as well as mindful meditation expert, Claudio Pannunzio, and content partner, yoga4cancer, to provide you with exciting content and access to helpful resources and information on the benefits of yoga and the healing power of hope.

This is more than just a fundraiser; it’s a celebration of connection and the incredible difference we can make by coming together in the spirit of hope.

Get your mats ready. Open your hearts, and join us for a day filled with love, light, and hope!

Question:  When is this event happening?

Answer:  All day Wednesday, November 15, 2023 (see details below re: the LLH experience). While we are encouraging participants to practice at 11 am EST for a unified national experience, you may practice at any point throughout the day.

Question:  How can I participate?

Answer:  There are several ways to participate. 

1. You can make a one-time contribution in whatever amount you wish on the LLH Fundraising page: https://justgiving.com/campaign/lovelighthope
2. Alternatively, you can set up your own fundraising page and have your family, friends, and colleagues join your efforts.
3. And of course, you can share the LLH page and event information with your network!

*Note:  Anyone who contributes to an existing fundraising page will also be able to participate in all the LLH events planned for November 15.

Question:  Once I’ve signed up/contributed, what happens?

Answer:  You will receive confirmation of your contribution via email.  You will subsequently receive a second email closer to the LLH date of November 15 containing links (and respective instructions) to access all of the materials and programs that come with your LLH experience.

Question:  What will be included in my LLH experience?

Answer:  Anyone who signs up via a one-time contribution, creates their own fundraising page, and/or contributes to an existing fundraising page will receive access to the following on-demand, pre-recorded materials:

• Exclusive yoga session by lead instructor Brittany Torstrup
• Guided mediation session by cancer survivor, Cancer Hope Network Peer Mentor Volunteer, and USCC Certified Chaplain, Claudio Pannunzio
• Additional resources and video courtesy of yoga4cancer

*Note: If you wish to purchase LLH merchandise, you can do so separately by visiting our merchandise page.  Please note these items usually take about 10 business days to arrive.

Question:  While I would love to participate in Brittany’s yoga session, (a) I have a conflict at the scheduled time, and/or (b) I have a yoga studio/place where I already enjoy going to practice.  What are my options?

Answer:  Make the day your own!  Many of us are regulars at yoga studios where we love going, or part of groups that get together outside or at friends’ homes to practice – please do that!  We welcome everyone to bring love, light, and hope by practicing however they wish on November 15.  And if you want to do both Brittany’s session and your separate class, the more the merrier!  There are no limits!

All we ask is that you enjoy, celebrate, share your experience on social media (photos/videos of course encouraged when possible), tag us in your post @cancerhopenetwork using the hashtag #LoveLightHope and fill the day with love, light, and hope!

About Cancer Hope Network

Cancer Hope Network provides free and confidential 1:1 peer support for cancer patients, survivors, and those who love them. Our trained survivor and caregiver volunteer mentors provide support from diagnosis, through treatment and into survivorship. They have faced more than 98% of the cancers that will be diagnosed in 2023, speak 15 languages, and are prepared to offer hope and guidance through a wide variety of challenges that accompany a cancer diagnosis.

All volunteer and client matches are overseen and supported from beginning to end by a team of healthcare and social work professionals. For more information about Cancer Hope Network and its mission, please visit https://cancerhopenetwork.org/

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Chester, N.J., October 12, 2023 – Cancer Hope Network (CHN) announces the addition of two distinguished professionals to its Board of Trustees: Michael W. Olesin, Senior Audit Partner at Deloitte & Touche LLP, and Michael Byrnes, Chief Client Officer at InStep Health. Their unique expertise and passion for positively impacting the lives of those affected by cancer will make them key drivers of CHN’s mission.

“We are thrilled to have these two distinguished executives joining us on the Board of Trustees,” said Terri-Ann Feindt, Board Chair and Chief Executive Officer at CHN. “We are building a new vision and direction for the organization in order to serve more people affected by cancer, and I’m confident Michael Olesin and Michael Byrnes will be instrumental in helping us achieve our goals and bringing hope to more people than ever before.”

Chief Client Officer of Instep Health, a medical marketing organization that utilizes technology to help healthcare workers manage client info, Byrnes oversees the sales organization and is an expert marketer with a wealth of knowledge and experience in patient acquisition and business development. Byrnes’ tenure as one of the company’s top five executives spans over 15 years, and his background in marketing and pharmaceuticals, coupled with his commitment to improving patient outcomes, make him a valuable addition to CHN’s Board of Trustees. Byrnes will also be joining the Board’s Marketing and Development Committees.

“I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the warm welcome and the opportunity to serve on the Board of Trustees,” said Byrnes. “I grew up around this organization and it is not only an honor and a privilege to be entrusted with this role, but a deeply personal one as well.  I am genuinely excited about the prospects and challenges that lie ahead.”

Before joining Instep Health, Byrnes held pharmaceutical sales and management positions with Rx EDGE, Weider Publications and Capital Publishing in New York City. He also served as Senior Director of Pharmaceutical Sales at Third Age Media in San Francisco.

Olesin is a highly experienced Senior Audit Partner with Deloitte & Touche LLP, with an impressive career spanning nearly three decades. He has been instrumental in handling some of Deloitte’s largest global multi-location and multinational engagements, and specializes in External Audit, Accounting, Sarbanes-Oxley Act, Internal Controls, and International Financial Reporting Standards and has extensive experience with joint venture structuring, consolidation accounting, equity method investments, as well as other areas of accounting. He also has extensive experience leading some of the firm’s largest global multi-location and multinational engagements. Olesin will leverage his financial expertise and strong client relationships to support the growth of CHN through the Board and its Finance Committee.

“I want to take a moment to share my excitement regarding the opportunity to serve as a member of Cancer Hope Network’s Board of Trustees—this exceptional team of leaders who have propelled the vision and strategy for CHN,” said Olesin. “I look forward to working with the board to embrace transformative change, and to celebrate the care and love provided by the many volunteers I am excited to step into the role of trustee and am committed to acting as a steward of the organization, safeguarding its interests, and I am sincerely honored and privileged for the opportunity to give back to those in need.”

Olesin’s work spans a variety of industries, including commodities, consumer products and manufacturing, and he has taken on roles including National Audit Leader for the JSG, the National IP&C Sub-Sector Leader for Trading Houses, and the GTS leader of the ER&I industry.

About Cancer Hope Network

Cancer Hope Network provides free and confidential 1:1 peer support for cancer patients, survivors, and those who love them. Our trained survivor and caregiver volunteer mentors provide support from diagnosis, through treatment and into survivorship. They have faced more than 98% of the cancers that will be diagnosed in 2023, speak 15 languages, and are prepared to offer hope and guidance through a wide variety of challenges that accompany a cancer diagnosis.

All volunteer and client matches are overseen and supported from beginning to end by a team of healthcare and social work professionals. For more information about Cancer Hope Network and its mission, please visit https://cancerhopenetwork.org/

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Chester, N.J., August 10, 2023 – Cancer Hope Network (CHN) announces a new committee that will drive the direction of its support for young adults affected by cancer, the Young Professionals Advisory Committee. This committee aims to harness the unique experiences and insights of young adults impacted by cancer and provide them with a platform to effect positive change and influence on CHN’s direction and strategies.

The Young Professionals Advisory Committee will be composed of young adults who have been impacted by cancer including cancer survivors, those who’ve served as primary caregivers to a loved one with cancer, and healthcare providers who are eager to make a meaningful impact. These committee members will work closely with the leadership team and board, and actively contribute to the CHN’s vision and mission.

“Appealing to a younger demographic is critical to the longevity of our organization and is one step in our goal of ensuring all individuals have someone who can walk their cancer path with them,” said Terri-Ann Feindt, CHN’s Board Chair and Chief Executive Officer. “Through the guidance provided by this new committee, we will be better equipped to provide support to a group of individuals who are balancing adult milestones with the lasting impacts of cancer.” 

Jeremy Kaye, Audit and Assurance Senior Manager at Deloitte, is spearheading the creation of the committee and will serve as its chair. A cancer survivor himself, Kaye’s expertise and dedication to advocating for cancer survivors is a driving force behind the initiative.

“My own experience with cancer has led to a desire to give back and support others who are in the same position I found myself in, which is why I’m thrilled we are now able to formalize a committee to drive further change,” said Kaye. “Through the committee, we are creating an inclusive community of change-makers and leaders united in their dedication to supporting those affected by cancer and fostering hope.”

While the committee aims to empower a new generation of leaders in the cancer space, it also serves as a crucial step for CHN to expand its team of trained Peer Mentors to provide the best possible support for young adults diagnosed with cancer who are looking to connect with someone who can relate to their experience. The committee will also inform and drive programming to reach more young professionals who may not know about Cancer Hope Network’s peer support services. 

For more information about Cancer Hope Network, please visit us at: www.cancerhopenetwork.org/

About Cancer Hope Network

Cancer is isolating and frightening. But it doesn’t have to be. Talking with someone who’s been there can make a cancer diagnosis, going through treatment, supporting a loved one, or adjusting to life post-treatment just a bit easier. Cancer Hope Network’s mission is to instill hope in cancer patients and their loved ones through one-on-one peer support from survivors and caregivers who have faced a similar experience. Through our one-on-one Peer Mentorship Program, we provide personalized, supportive connections for patients and caregivers based on diagnosis and treatment, as well as mental, emotional, social, cultural, and spiritual needs, individual lifestyle choices, and other personal circumstances.

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Chester, N.J., June 5, 2023 – Cancer Hope Network (CHN), the first and one of the nation’s leading peer-to-peer cancer support organizations, announced today that they will award Claudio Pannunzio with the 2023 Michael Kzirian “Flame of Courage” award during the 28^thAnnual CHN Golf Classic in West Orange, NJ.

Pannunzio is a two-time cancer survivor and a Cancer Hope Network Support Volunteer mentor. He is recognized for having demonstrated exceptional courage, spirit and determination in the face of cancer, for providing emotional support and making a meaningful impact on the lives of cancer patients, their families and their caregivers across a number of organizations in which he serves, including Yale New Haven Health-Greenwich Hospital.

“Cancer Hope Network’s Peer Support Volunteers are at the heart of everything we do– creating hope and empowering cancer patients and caregivers at any point in their journey, from pre-diagnosis, through diagnosis and treatment, and into survivorship. Claudio Pannunzio joined our volunteer network in 2020 and has made an extraordinary impact on the lives of the patients and families we’ve paired him with,” said Beth Blakey, Executive Director & COO of Cancer Hope Network.

“Hope is a powerful tool for anyone facing adversity. For people experiencing cancer, the hope that comes from speaking with someone like Claudio who’s been there and ‘gets it’ can positively impact health outcomes and make cancer a little less scary and isolating. We are so grateful to Claudio for the many lives he’s touched and the difference he makes every day as a CHN Peer Support Volunteer. It is an honor and privilege to present him with the Michael Kzirian Flame of Courage Award at the CHN Annual Golf Classic on June 12^th.”

“I am deeply honored to receive this award, as it commemorates our late board member and friend, Michael Kzirian, who has made an unforgettable contribution to CHN’s mission,” stated Pannunzio.  “With more than 18 million survivors living in the United States today, our mission to empower cancer patients and their loved ones with hope through one-on-one support is crucial. Every day, our nearly five hundred volunteer mentors walk the cancer path and selflessly share their personal journey with cancer to help address and alleviate the suffering of others.”

“Twice in my life I have experienced first-hand how cancer can affect an individual and their families. I wholeheartedly believe in CHN’s mission and in the services we provide. Our support and daily interactions with patients from diagnosis, through treatment and into recovery truly make a difference in their lives. CHN’s cause is at the core of my motivation, and it is an absolute honor for me to receive this award,” Pannunzio added.

CHN’s survivor and caregiver volunteer mentors provide free and confidential support from diagnosis, through treatment and beyond. These trained volunteers, who live in 38 US states and Canada, have faced more than 98% of the cancers that will be diagnosed this year. They range in age from 19 to 94 and speak 15 languages. As a result, CHN mentors can provide individualized support for clients based on their greatest needs.

The Michael Kzirian Flame of Courage Award, as well as the inaugural Cancer Hope Network Corporate Philanthropic Leadership Award, will be presented at the cocktail reception of the 28^thAnnual CHN Golf Classic on June 12, 2023 at the Crestmont Country Club in Orange, NJ.

About Cancer Hope Network

Based in Chester, NJ, Cancer Hope Network is the first and one of the nation’s leading peer-to-peer cancer support organizations. Founded over 40 years ago to combat the fear and isolation faced by cancer patients, the organization pairs-up individuals diagnosed with cancer and their caregivers with volunteers who currently are on their cancer journey. Ranging from age 19 to 94, CHN’s volunteers are present in 38 US states and Canada and speak 15 languages. For more information visit https://cancerhopenetwork.org/.

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My husband, Joe, and I have been married for almost five years. We’ve been together closer to nine, but decided in July 2018 to marry in my small hometown of Frenchtown, NJ in the little bookstore that had become a hub for us. We’re both authors and the closest independent bookstore is always the first place we go to make friends. Back in 2018, it was called The Book Garden, and we loved it and the owners so much that we decided it was the best place to bring our six kids—three from each of our previous marriages—and have the mayor officiate and sign our papers. It was simple, sweet, and incredibly meaningful. An absolute match to our relationship.

In August, we had a bigger event at Lake Tahoe. We both teach writing in an MFA program out there that affords us occasional expense-paid trips to teach on campus. What better beauty to have a wedding and once again, free! This time we dressed up proper, me in a handmade, vintage lace Etsy gown, and Joe in his kilt. One of our closest friends married us beneath the peaks at Mt. Rose with a community of writers and teachers we hold dear.

Then, less than a week later, back in Frenchtown, a truck came crashing through the building next to ours, exploded, and started a fire that would leave us homeless with nothing except the pajamas we wore when we escaped our tiny apartment. We spent one last year in New Jersey, only because a generous landlord gave us a discount on a house, but I cringed every time a truck passed by. I could no longer handle the sound of traffic. Meanwhile, Joe’s contractual university job was ending, and soon we decided it was time to move south, something I’ve wanted to do for a long time to escape winter.

We had our sights set on rural Virginia, but somewhat close to Harrisonburg, a college town with jobs and amenities, no more than 30 minutes away. The combination of living in the woods, but being able to take a short drive to a coffee shop or see a show seemed perfect. However, our house fell through and we had to scramble once more. What played out over the next two months, as we lived out of an Airbnb, was nothing short of miraculous, but we ended up in a place we never would have expected: the mountains of West Virginia.

Living in West Virginia: The Start of Our Journey

The population of West Virginia is only 1.8 million people which is about three times smaller than the size of New Jersey, whose population is over 9 million. For anyone familiar with Frenchtown and Hunterdon County, New Jersey, you know it’s considered rural. It’s a fairly pristine county of horse farms and rolling hills that hasn’t changed all that much since I was a baby, and you can enjoy the Delaware River, woods, trails and lakes as well as a bunch of small, noncommercial river towns. I also lived across the river in Pennsylvania for about twenty years, a bit more rural, more wild, considerable distance from a good hospital, which was an issue for me then as well, and I’ll write more about that soon. I’ve spent my life living in both small towns and the woods and I’ve always considered myself as a “country girl”.

But West Virginia was a whole new wild and wonderful world, vast and stunning and isolated.

We bought an adorable bungalow in the mountains, previously owned by an artist who had put so many gorgeous touches on the house and in her gardens. We got to inherit it all. I immediately got to planning more gardens, planting vegetables and flowers, and harvesting blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. Tree frogs and more birds than I’ve ever seen, and Luna moths the size of my hand delighted both of us. We created Instagram accounts to document the wildlife around us. We’d found a sanctuary on the mountain and even though we suddenly had tasks like chopping wood for the winter, and chasing a lot of unexpected visitors out of our house (hello, garter snake) we loved it. We moved right before the pandemic, so we had these ancient, untouched acres of oak and redbuds and dogwood to explore and care for instead of being trapped in our old apartment.

The only thing we kept saying, as the last few years have rolled by, was that if anything happened to one of us, we were way too far away from help, be it family or doctors. How would an ambulance or fire truck get up our dirt road and steep drive? But we weren’t even fifty yet, both have been very healthy throughout our lives, and so we weren’t terribly worried. Nonetheless, at the end of 2022, Joe got a new job again and we put our beloved home up for sale to move closer, and in Virginia, sort of a resurrection of our original plan. The mountains healed me. I was ready to get back to people. In small doses, anyway.

At the same time, Joe started experiencing problems with swallowing. He’s had some issue with this in the years I’ve known him, but it had never been severe or persistent enough to be a warning sign. And prior to my new cancer education, I wouldn’t have even known it to be a warning sign. I sometimes thought it was a response to anxiety, and in December with a new job and pending move, that was my assumption once more. But then he got the flu and completely lost his appetite. We live about fifteen minutes from a decent-sized town that has most of the amenities one needs, basic as they are—Walmart, Tractor Supply, Sheetz—and when he wasn’t getting better, I worried he might have pneumonia. So, he went to EZ care for a chest scan. 

Maybe two days later, after we got the results of that scan, I wrote in my journal:

January 18. Day One.

Cancer Diagnosis & The Other Side of Rural Living

Although we didn’t have the official diagnosis yet, I knew the scan was accurate once I did a little research. He had esophageal cancer and it had already spread to his lymph nodes. Later we would learn it’s Stage Four. It’s still baffling to us both that something so extreme can be lurking in your body without making itself known until the last minute. Especially in someone who has now just turned fifty, has always been physically active, never overweight a day in his life, doesn’t smoke, has no family history of cancer, no real markers for this beast.

If one thing is true, cancer does not care about statistics.

My first panicked thought was: we need to move, like, yesterday. While there is a small, 25-bed hospital about an hour away, the closest cancer center is an hour and a half. As I began reading about how he would be treated—chemoradiation that would involve daily appointments—I realized there was no way we could stay home while this carried out. Not only because driving three hours a day for a fifteen-minute radiation appointment would be ridiculous, but what if there was an emergency? I’ve heard plenty of stories; I knew the poison that kills cancer is no joke.

This is where a good friend of mine stepped in to help. She works for Cancer Hope Network and she reached out with resources from her organization and other connections immediately. I had no idea there was so much out there for families going through cancer. Mentor connections, gas cards, hotel discounts, even pet care services and so much more. In the beginning, after a diagnosis like this, there is so much to weed through, but Rachel made it possible for me to focus on a few really important priorities.

Still, it’s just us out here in the woods. We’ve made a few friends, (bookstore related of course) but not a ton since most of our time here was during a pandemic!  While our friends have been incredibly supportive and helpful, they are not physically close to our actual home, and I’m not sure we could expect them to truly be on the inside of this awful journey, in the actual muck and darkness and constant hypervigilance that comes along with it.

So just like that, our sanctuary of a home turned into a trap. But we couldn’t go forward with selling it during Joe’s treatment, so we took it off the market and started to draft a new plan that involved living in a hotel near the hospital for six weeks. A plan that was only made possible by our enormous network of distant friends and family who generously contributed to our fundraiser. A plan that the majority of people who live in West Virginia would never be able to make. Although the hotel offered a generous discount for cancer families, it still amounted to thousands of dollars. Money we could not have come up with on our own.

The Challenges of Rural Cancer Care

This has opened my eyes to the struggles in rural areas in a whole new way, and while Joe and I do have the resources to change our living arrangements so that he has the care he needs—again because of so many generous souls—that would not be the case for most people in this region. According to a recent PBS broadcast, (which I encourage you to watch) nearly two-thirds of areas with a shortage of primary health care professional are in rural communities, let alone specialized medicine like cancer care. And 99% of medical training takes place in cities and suburbs, where doctors usually end up working. So rural areas are frequently left to very few options.

Medical schools like WVU are beginning to take this on by giving doctors extra training and education to specifically work in rural areas since federal programs have failed the region. In many cases West Virginia residents have to drive far more hours than Joe and I have to see a specialist. So, these primary doctors have to serve as specialists in order to help their patients avoid such trials just to receive quality health care.

People who live in rural areas are often overlooked and unfairly judged. I have received hurtful comments from people for moving to a “rural red state”, and in today’s polarized society the divide between the choice to live urban or rural has become a political decision at best, and a moral one at its worst, which is completely ridiculous. The reality is, people of all backgrounds and politics and belief systems live in both cities and in rural areas, and everyone deserves a quality level of health care. Without easy access, people avoid appointments and treatments because the financial burden is too high, or they don’t have reliable transportation or the ability to stay in a hotel. While some young people are beginning to get their medical education and return to the rural land they love to practice, West Virginia is in need of so many more.

Receiving this diagnosis has been a blow to both our lives, financially, emotionally and physically. We are slowly figuring it out despite the uncertainty, are both adaptable people who will run with whatever change is needed in our own lives, but in the meantime, I’m learning how much more difficult this diagnosis and rural cancer care could be for other families. I find it incredibly sad that such a beautiful landscape, a place where so many escape to from the city for recreation and peace, is hurting for such basic needs. We cannot write off rural areas simply because it’s easy to look away, or we don’t like the perceived politics, or in our case, leave. It’s not fair to use up a place for our own enjoyment (or industry) and turn a blind eye to the people who have lived here and cultivated the land for generations. I look forward to sharing more of our story, and the stories of others I’ve witnessed while living here to help further expose the struggle for what many people in other areas of the US consider basic needs. I’m not the first in any sense to become aware or be affected by of some of the unique issues in rural areas, but in my own tiny way I hope to help.

The post In the Woods with Cancer: Day One appeared first on Cancer Hope Network.

A recipient of the Flame of Courage award in 2018, Michael served as Cancer Hope Network’s Board Secretary, a member of our Golf Committee, and part of the Cancer Hope Network Vision 2025 Strategic Planning Committee until his passing in 2022. We remember him and his contributions to our mission daily and are confident that this year’s award honoree embodies many of the same qualities.

We are also excited to announce the honoree of the inaugural Corporate Philanthropic Leadership Award, which helps recognize the companies and organizations that support us, as well as to spotlight local heroes contributing to our mission in meaningful ways. The Corporate Philanthropic Leadership Award celebrates an individual or group who embodies integrity, demonstrates leadership in helping those impacted by cancer, and models excellence in the field of philanthropy.

The Michael Kzirian Flame of Courage Award, as well as the inaugural Cancer Hope Network Corporate Philanthropic Leadership Award will be presented at the cocktail reception of the 28^th Annual CHN Golf Classic, sponsored by Deloitte, on June 12, 2023.

Keeping the Flame of Courage Lit

Cancer Hope Network is excited to present Claudio Pannunzio with the 2023 Michael Kzirian Flame of Courage Award at this year’s CHN Golf Classic. Claudio is an extraordinary volunteer and supporter of Cancer Hope Network’s mission and we are delighted to recognize him in this way.

Claudio is a cancer survivor and trained Cancer Hope Network Support Volunteer mentor who lives in Greenwich, CT. In addition to serving as a Support Volunteer, Claudio was a valued member of the Cancer Hope Network Vision 2025 Strategic Planning Committee in 2021-2022.

Adding to the many ways that Claudio makes a difference in the Cancer Hope Network Community, he will be joining the Cancer Hope Network team in Washington, D.C., on June 23rd to present at the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship’s Annual Cancer Policy and Advocacy Team Symposium.

Claudio is the Director of New Business & Public Relations for Adler Branding & Marketing in New York City and the CEO & Founder of I-Impact Group, Inc. in Greenwich, CT.

We thank Claudio for his continued contributions to our cause and look forward to presenting the Michael Kzirian Flame of Courage Award to him at the 2023 CHN Golf Classic on June 12th!

Philanthropy at its Finest

The first-ever honoree for Cancer Hope Network’s Corporate Philanthropic Leadership Award is CCG Marketing Solutions, a specialized 3^rd party logistics (3PL) provider who regularly supports philanthropic efforts at both the local and national level.   

CCG Marketing Solutions’ affiliation with Cancer Hope Network began with a printing donation in 2019.  Since then, they have contributed in many ways including hosting an organization-wide promotional campaign for Giving Tuesday—helping to raise awareness about the important work we do with their employees and matching employee donations to raise $5,000.

Thank you again to CCG Marketing Solutions and their employees for their continued support. We can’t wait to honor them at the 2023 CHN Golf Classic on June 12th!

The post The Embodiments of Hope: Celebrating our 2023 CHN Golf Classic Award Recipients appeared first on Cancer Hope Network.

Chester, N.J., April 13, 2023 – Cancer Hope Network (CHN), one of the nation’s leading 1:1 peer support nonprofits for adult cancer patients and their loved ones, announces the election of Terri-Ann Feindt as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and Beth Blakey as Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer. Their combined leadership will drive forward CHN’s mission and strategic plan to serve more people and expand access to programming nationwide.

Founder & Chief Executive Officer of industry-leading technology solutions and strategy firm, Double Eagle Consulting, Feindt has been an active member of CHN’s Board of Trustees for more than two years, during which she chaired the Development Committee, dedicated her time and talents as a member of the Vision 2025 Strategic Planning Committee. In her role as Chairman & CEO, Feindt will apply her experience advising top companies in the IT space to execute CHN’s Vision 2025 Strategic Plan.

“I’m honored to be selected as Chairman and CEO of this amazing organization and to help execute the vision the planning committee worked hard to create,” said Feindt. “I’m excited to help lead our efforts to serve more people, providing and measuring high-quality services, engaging strategic partners and collaborators in the oncology space, and driving financial viability. Our vision is a world where no one faces cancer alone. Broadening awareness of our program and raising the funds to support it will be the cornerstones that help us reach our goals and actualize our vision.”

Feindt is an active member of Women in Technology, NetApp, and DMN Marketing Forum. A dynamic leader, dedicated supporter, and compassionate advocate, she brings a wealth of corporate and nonprofit expertise to CHN’s board and is deeply connected to the spirit of CHN’s mission through her own experience as a caregiver to her late father.

As a seasoned non-profit veteran of over 20 years, spending four of them with Cancer Hope Network in Fundraising & Development, Blakey partners with CHN’s Board of Trustees, Medical Advisory Board, and Board Committees to ensure the excellence and quality of CHN’s peer support program. As Executive Director & COO, Blakey will drive the development of CHN’s programming and fundraising.

“I’m honored to work alongside such a strong leadership team that’s deeply passionate about growing Cancer Hope Network’s program to best serve our current and future patients, caregivers, and volunteers,” said Blakey. “My goal alongside Terri-Ann is to reach everyone who might benefit from our services, making our organization more accessible and ensuring no one has to face cancer alone.”

Previously working for a variety of nonprofits including Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the Rutgers University Foundation, and the Mayo Theatre and operating her own nonprofit and corporate communications consulting business for 13 years, Blakey’s expertise includes fundraising, organizational assessments, strategic planning, operations, and business development.

Forty-two years ago, Cancer Hope Network was the first in the nation to provide 1:1 peer support for cancer patients. For over four decades, the organization has remained steadfast to the simple, yet profound concept upon which we were founded—that through meaningful connection with someone with shared lived experience, cancer patients and their loved ones can navigate cancer with a greater sense of well-being and hope.

About Cancer Hope Network

Cancer Hope Network provides free and confidential 1:1 peer support for cancer patients, survivors and the people who love them. Our trained survivor and caregiver volunteer mentors provide support from diagnosis, through treatment and into survivorship. They have faced more than 98% of the cancers that will be diagnosed in 2023, speak 15 languages and are prepared to offer hope and guidance through a wide variety of challenges that accompany a cancer diagnosis.

All volunteer and client matches are overseen and supported from beginning to end by a team of healthcare and social work professionals.

The post Cancer Hope Network Strengthens Commitment to Serving Cancer Patients With New Appointments to Leadership Team appeared first on Cancer Hope Network.

Cancer Hope Network’s volunteer team of cancer survivors and cancer caregivers is growing! Graduates of our first peer mentor training class of 2023 are prepared with the skills and resources to provide hope and help to cancer patients and caregivers across the country.  

Members of this class experienced a variety of treatments – from chemotherapies and radiation to Goldilocks reconstruction, and even a splenectomy. Some were matched with a Cancer Hope mentor when going through their own treatment and are now ready to pay that service forward. Others served as caregivers for their loved ones during their cancer experience Their hobbies include meditation, nature and wildlife photography, and working out. Members of the class speak Spanish, Italian, and Arabic.  

“There is a through line of hope and care with every person who serves as a CHN peer mentor, but each training class brings a special perspective,” said CHN program director Samantha Schrager. “This class was particularly passionate about listening to their bodies and finding ways to stay positive no matter what the circumstances.”  

— 

Three lessons from cancer survivors they would give a friend who was newly diagnosed. 

Be brave in your own way. 

Debbie encourages newly diagnosed patients to embrace honesty and transparency. “It’s okay to say you’re scared. Sometimes we’re afraid to tell people it’s scary. Telling people helps acknowledge and overcome the fear. Don’t be afraid to say you’re scared. It’s real and it’s okay.”  

Accept help.  

Endometrial cancer survivor Marianne shared her deep gratitude for the support she received from family and friends and caregiver mentor Ashleigh recalled how difficult – but necessary – it was to accept the help of others. 

Ask questions.  

When newly trained caregiver mentor Christina was six, her mother cared for her aunt who was going through cancer. Seventeen years later, it was Christina’s turn to care for her mother. Today, mother and daughter are doing well, and those formative experiences made Christina a passionate advocate for the benefits of genetic counseling. They’ve also helped her develop thoughtful insight. “Find support. Advocate for yourself. Find resources. Educate yourself. Make informed decisions. Everyone has their own experience.”  

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The January 2023 group of trained Cancer Hope Network Support Volunteers joins nearly 500 of CHN’s active Support Volunteers from across the nation. Peer support mentors speak 15 languages and range in age from 19-94.  

Support matches (the connection between a trained volunteer and a patient or caregiver) often start with a shared diagnosis or similar treatment. They are then personalized to meet the needs of each client based on shared life experiences or special circumstances. Matches are free and confidential – and often include multiple visits.   

Request a match with a trained cancer mentor, or call our Programs Team at 877.467.3638. 

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The post <strong>Cancer Survivors Share Lessons for the Newly Diagnosed. </strong> appeared first on Cancer Hope Network.

She’d noticed blood in her stool and went to the doctor in 2008. Their “It’s probably nothing, but let’s play it safe.  I’d like you to make an appointment for a colonoscopy” discussion soon took a turn. Rather than nothing, she was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer that had metastasized to a large tumor on her liver.  

It was a dread-filled moment. “For me, Stage 4 was the same as death. There are no more stages after that.” She plowed ahead. Thanks to an extraordinary medical team, chemo, surgery, more chemo, more surgery, and mop-up chemo, she was declared “no evidence of disease” in 2009. Since then, she’s battled through two recurrences, including multiple surgeries and even more rounds of chemo.  

Through it all, she’s maintained her upbeat outlook on life, gratitude for her support system, and a determination to help others facing the same challenges. As a Support Volunteer, she’s providing hope and support for patients across the nation.  

“Not a day goes by that I don’t feel like the luckiest person in the world.  Many of my loved ones who were alive and well when I was diagnosed have since passed, yet I’m still here.  Survivor’s guilt is real, but I wholeheartedly accept the fact that I have unfinished business here on earth, that not even I know about.” 

She offers four tips for dealing with a colon – or recurring – cancer.  

1. Be a champion of your own care. 

“My surgeons and oncologists worked together as a team – and I was part of that team,” Julie recalls. Her first journey through cancer left her feeling empowered. “I became a lot more assertive and directed how I wanted things to go.” In 2012, she asked them to remove a spot they’d been monitoring on her lungs. “It wasn’t really growing, but it was weighing on me emotionally. When they biopsied, we found out it was related to my colon cancer.”  

She is resolute in her belief that patients can benefit from working with a team of professionals, relying on each to bring the experience and expertise of their specialty. “Your oncologist is your expert in your chemo plan. But if it’s in your liver, the liver specialist knows livers and the lung specialist knows lungs. I’d go to Taco Bell for tacos, but not burgers.” (Authors note: Post-pandemic, we promise to introduce Julie to better tacos.) 

2. Ask questions.  

Her second tip flows naturally from the first. Ask. Ask. Ask. “Never hold back your questions, because getting answers can be therapeutic. Sometimes, if we don’t ask questions, we let our minds run away from us.” The simple act of gathering more information can help relieve some of the upset and anxiety. “Fighting cancer is such a scary time. It’s easy to fall into bad assumptions. Questions help manage those assumptions.” 

3. Accept help.  

A self-described “eternal optimist” who is “large and in charge” and a natural caregiver, cancer taught Julie an important, if difficult lesson. Let people help. “I wasn’t very good at accepting help. I take care of everyone else. If I were to go through a hard time again, I’d be vulnerable enough to let others take the lead. I was such an actress, and it was exhausting. No one expected that of me except myself.”  

Her first instinct as a mother was to tell her children that everything would be ok and that they just needed to focus on their schoolwork. “In hindsight, I could have said ‘this is not normal, so let’s not pretend it is.’ My efforts to ease other people’s burdens – in ways they weren’t asking me to – were exhausting. I should have validated and acknowledged that what we were going through wasn’t normal.”  

When she did let people help, the comfort was palpable. Diagnosed at the height of the financial crisis, she was blown away by the generosity of friends and strangers who stepped up to donate vacation time and contribute to fundraisers. “I continued to work, but I missed eleven weeks for surgery, three days every other week for chemo. That generosity meant I kept my house. It was such a huge peace. With the fight I was already focused on, I didn’t have to worry about where we would live.” 

4. Keep perspective. Look for possibilities. 

As someone who would “do a million surgeries to avoid chemo,” the prospect of 12 rounds of chemotherapy was especially daunting. Julie’s surgeon helped her find much-needed perspective. “Don’t view it as 12 chemos. View it as one chemo at a time. Break it up into little tasks. If you look at 12, it’s too much” That worked, and after each chemo, she’d head back to the office where a big red marker was waiting to scratch off her latest small victory. “One at a time made it manageable. It was a mental game, but it worked.”  

Today, she sees her role as a volunteer in a similar way, helping patients find their own victories, and finding hope in possibility. “I want to be that beacon of hope for others with a stage 4 diagnosis. I venture to guess that there are many people like me who think stage 4 is synonymous with death. And here I am 12 years later.”  

“The statistics are not high. But the problem with statistics is that they focus on probabilities. But I don’t want to focus on probabilities. I want to focus on possibilities. My doctors were real, they didn’t sugarcoat, but it was combined with such confidence. I asked the tough questions. Anything is possible, so you might as well be focused on possibilities.” 

The post Julie Montas: A Masterclass in Cancer Survivorship appeared first on Cancer Hope Network.

Ben cared for his mother as she fought, and after their wedding, Leah & Ben took on the responsibility together. “I got really lucky to have married Leah,” Ben says. “We were newlyweds, but Leah was adamant that we were the right people to take care of mom.” 

From 2015-2019, they were primary caregivers. At that time, they also welcomed two children and began building their business Smith & Smith Realty Group. Caregiving and its emotional toll defined the early years of early marriage. “You’d pick it a thousand times, but it can be frustrating.” 

The pair wanted to get more involved with their community in a more active way and their research brought them to Cancer Hope Network. They knew immediately they’d found a cause to rally for. “You just feel kind of alone in the process (of caregiving),” Ben said. “Your friends don’t get it. Even families can struggle to understand the challenges of caring for a loved one 24/7. You are a caregiver and also a new parent. It was like: wait a minute. You can get paired up with someone who knows what it’s like to be a caregiver. Or someone for my mom to connect with? This is amazing!”  

That find led to the first-ever Step on Cancer walk held in downtown Merchantville earlier this year. They planned quickly, learning the ropes of fundraising and permits and promotional challenges as they went. “It was kind of nerve-wracking hosting our first event,” Leah recalls. “But as we saw people start pouring in, it was incredible. We’re grateful to our personal community for coming out – and it was exciting to see people who’d found us online and through promotions.”  

They handed out rally towels for the attendees to write the names of loved ones they were walking for, with walkers. For some attendees, the event was the first opportunity to see the historic town up close. For others, it was an opportunity to enjoy the delicious flavors of A & J Food Services. For all, it was a chance to remember loved ones lost too soon and celebrate survivors and caregivers still with us.  

“We are grateful to Ben, Leah, and the Smith & Smith Realty Group for helping increase awareness of the need for and availability of peer support,” said CHN Associate Director of Special Events, Randibeth Gallant. “The funds they raised will help ensure no one faces cancer alone. We look forward to joining the fun at next year’s walk.”  

For more information about how you can host a fundraiser of your own, contact Randibeth at rgallant@cancerhopenetwork.org. Visit cancerhopenetwork.org/connect to request free and confidential support    

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