Mom/Terry on the Cancer Connection:
"I don't think I would've survived without the Cancer Connection. I know I wouldn't have... With cancer, it's more than a full-time job to take care of yourself. I never would've been able to afford the extra care I found at the Cancer connection, the care that helped me get through my treatment."
Watch the full video of Mom talking about the Cancer Connection here.
Our lives changed a lot the summer Mom got her cancer diagnosis. One thing that didn't change is that she was still the heart of our family, the force pushing us all forward, together, through everything. She's the toughest person I've ever known, but was never afraid to show vulnerability, or to ask for help, which she definitely needed that summer. We all needed help. And the Cancer Connection was where she found that support. As a daughter it was hard to not always know what to do, or how to make things better. I'm so grateful Mom had the Cancer Connection to help her through that very difficult time, a place where she could find community, compassion, and comfort. She joined groups to talk with, got reiki and lymph massage and reflexology, got wigs and hats and a million tips for how to deal with life during and after treatment. People came to our house to treat her when she couldn't travel to the center. After her recovery, she enjoyed exercise and rowing classes and other activities through the Cancer Connection. And when her cancer eventually returned, the Cancer Connection again became a place of support for her, and for us.
This Mother's Day, Team Terry will be spending the day how Mom would've wanted to spend it: on a nice long hike in the woods, with some family and maybe a few dogs. We'll be walking 5K in support of the Cancer Connection's Western Mass Mother's Day Half Marathon, and would appreciate any donations we can get in support of that.
WMass Mother's Day Half Marathon
The WMass Mother's Day Half Marathon has been supporting Cancer Connection for 10 years! Now that 2020 has been brutal to charities, they need our help more than ever. This race is one of extremely FEW that operate on donation. Race expenses are kept to a minimum, yet we try to make the runners' experience top-notch. This race has a vibe of gratitude, appreciation and so much love. Not only are runners happy to run, volunteers are happy to help and cancer-warriors are happy to benefit from the free services provided by Cancer Connection.
It is truly The BEST half in Western Mass! This race makes an impact!
At our center on Locust Street in Northampton, people living with cancer, their families and caregivers can meet one-on-one in a comforting and welcoming environment with staff or volunteers. We also host support groups that offer coping strategies and emotional support. Other services include integrative therapies (Reiki, reflexology, acupuncture, massage and guided imagery), programs and workshops including creative arts and exercise classes that focus on relieving physical and emotional stress and building physical and emotional strength.
Cancer Connection offers programs and support free of charge for men, women and children living with a cancer diagnosis, their families and friends. You are welcome to attend as many programs as you would like, based on space availability. We offer additional classes and workshops in the spring and fall. You can call our center and ask to be added to the mailing list for our next program guide.
Priority for our programs is given to those currently in treatment along with their family and caregivers. All programs, unless noted, are held at Cancer Connection:
41 Locust Street in Northampton, MA.
Many classes can accept new participants, even if the class has already started. Call today to ask about joining!
Visit our website, http://cancer-connection.org/programs, for a listing of current programs or call our office and we can mail you our current program guide.