WeyStrong is holding their second annual All-Day Survivor Retreat this October and registration is now open for any women who has experienced a cancer diagnosis in their life.
Committee member with the WeyStrong initative, Lisa Vick, says the event will allow cancer survivors to gather and find community within their shared experiences. She explains the event is based off the success they saw at the first annual retreat held last year.
“We had about 35 women that came out last year and every single one of them enjoyed the day. They felt connection, they felt loved, they had some fun and laughter and hands-on activities with the crafts. It was just a well-rounded day.”
While many WeyStrong events are open to all women in the community, this event is for women who have experienced a cancer diagnosis at any point in their life, whether in remission or still undergoing treatment.
“If you are at any point in your journey, if you were diagnosed 20 years ago and you've been in remission, you have a value to come to our retreat. Women want to see those successful women who have gone on and lived a very full life past their diagnosis. It's not just for those that have been through it recently or who are experiencing it now, it's for anyone who's ever been diagnosed.”
Vick says it’s important to the organization that women can attend the event for free. Alongside fundraisers held throughout the year, they have put a call out for sponsors to ensure the event is fully funded.
“We don't want there to be any barriers and most of the women who've ever received a diagnosis have been through enough as it is. We want to give them a day that's totally free, full of wonderful experiences, would just mean the world to all of us.”
There are a variety of sponsorship levels available.
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$1000 lunch sponsor
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$400 venue sponsor
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$500 “Wisdom and Wellness” sponsor
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$500 “Creative and Courage” sponsor
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$50 Sponsor a survivor
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$50 Sponsor a loved one
There are also opportunities without a specific dollar amount, including a “Friends of the Retreat” sponsor who can contribute items to comfort bags or door and game prizes, an “In-Kind” sponsor who can donate their time to the event, and a “Hope” sponsor who can donate any dollar amount.
“We have all kinds of levels of sponsorship. If you've got five dollars you can spare, fantastic. If you want to sponsor the cost of the venue for us, wonderful. We’re just reaching out to the community to get what we can from them, and to honour those that have ever experienced a diagnosis would be wonderful.”
The event will be held on Sunday, October 19th at Knox Hall from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Email weystrong2024@gmail.com to reserve a spot or to inquire about sponsorship. Inquiries can also be made to any WeyStrong committee member.