Celebrating Our 12th Wellness Retreat

It is always amazing to Debbie and I, now celebrating our 12th wellness retreat, that there is consistently a common thread (besides the obvious) that unites these individuals.  This past weekend 12 on the participants had only been in contact with us via email - we had no history with them except the brief communications via email. What we met were extraordinarily warm and open women - this is our blessing.

We are always in awe at the breakfast introductions where the journeys are shared.  This particular group of survivors had a recurring theme of self diagnosis and advocacy, knowing there was something wrong and not letting the doctors dismiss that gut feeling. Lesson to be learned for all of us - follow your instincts and do not back down.

We rolled with the punches (behind the scenes) as we lost volunteers and presenters at the last minute due to illnesses. Normally we shuffle the survivors without a breather from class to class, this weekend allowed more time in between to schmooze and recover.

Of course Penni Niles, our premier Zumba instructor, started the activities of the day warming up the muscles and bringing light and fun into the day.

Our yogi, Lida, moved away and in stepped Isabel to our rescue. We trust that the right people show up for us - her introduction to the class was emotional and so beautiful. Isabel, who wears many hats in fitness held a floor Pilate's class.  Our intent with the retreat is to introduce many modalities of exercise to add to their treatment and recovery plan - and this was a first for Pilates.

Debbie and I battle through strength training but the class survived the banter. 

Time for the Reiki Healing Circle...Rosemary Maginnis orchestrates this portion of the retreat, enlisting 20 + Reiki practitioners.  This was a very powerful time for many.  The meditation set the time and tone , the energy in the room was intense.  Many did not have any knowledge of the practice of Reiki and allowed themselves to be open to these wonderful healers.  Thank you each and every practitioner who volunteered their time and talent.
You are a blessing.

For another first, we had Energy Healer, Theresa Walsh of The Sacred Walk join us for a presentation and then total transformation as she worked her magic with the Angel Gemstone Cards.  Non-believers were enlightened, the energy work began...tears were shed and the awakening opened up.

Sunday is a lower key day, the intent was to have a hike and/or aqua ballet class (sound so much more refined) however as I mentioned we rolled with the punches - the hotel was at maximum capacity and I do believe they needed much time to clean and sterilize after the partying was over.  We hiked and let the pool sanitize.

What needs to be told was the bond that these women shared with each other -
it is priceless.

Some of the testimonials received:

The Strength for Life Retreat was an amazing gift to me, and I feel completely blessed. The directors 
Jacqui, Debbie, and Denise are personable , kind, and uplifting. This retreat was really the most positive thing I have done for myself since my diagnosis, it was wonderful in so many ways. 
I will always remember this time and always have appreciation for the connecting with all of the lovely strong women I met this weekend. 
The exercise classes gave me hope, for I was only use to exercise with weight and now I know, I can 
get a lot of benefits using pilates, zumba, and strength training with resistance bands. The volunteers that presented the classes were kind and giving. 
Meditation and Reiki circle, made me feel amazing, relaxed, a feeling of calm...along with a oneness with all of the others in the room. 
The strength for life team is commended, and the honor Evelyn Knapp lives on. Again I am thankful.

"Today I attended Strength for Life workshop at the Hyatt in Happauge, NY. It was a truly wonderful experience. Jacqui and Debbie did a terrific job organizing and planning a fun filled and informative weekend for cancer survivors. Thank you for all you do."

 

"I want to thank you and Debbie again for the gift given to me. It was a wonderful experience and I can say that it seems everyone love it as much as I did. Your contribution to my spirit and the community bond between most participants are certainly priceless."

Join us as we honor three incredible women who exemplify our motto to

 'Inspire, Strengthen and Empower'  

Annette Gerani, Maryann Graham and Margaret McAdorey.

AND

As we present our First 'Evelyn Knapp Benevolence Award" 

to Donna Reale of Popei's, Deer Park

 June 1st at the Upsky Hotel, Hauppauge from 4-8pm.

$65 or $550 table of 10

email strengthforlife@optonline.net

mail - Strength for Life, 902 Constance Lane, PJS, NY 11776

Thank you!

Ways YOU Can Help Us Help Your Friends, Family & Neighbors

Our 12^th wellness retreat will be held this weekend at the Hyatt Windwatch – come back and read the post of another awesome group of survivors. Here’s a link to the February retreat

According to this recent post “7 Things Remarkably Happy People Do Often”

#5 Give: While giving is usually considered to be unselfish, giving can also be more beneficial for the giver than the receiver. 

Intuitively I think we all knew that because it feels awesome to help someone who needs it. Not only is helping those in need fulfilling, it's also a reminder of how comparatively fortunate we are--which is a nice reminder of how thankful we should be for what we already have.

As you may know Strength for Life provides FREE exercise classes and wellness retreats to cancer patients/survivors on Long Island.  We hold classes at various venues to make it as accessible as possible for the survivor to be compliant to an exercise program.  Classes are held at Stony Brook Cancer Center, Winthrop Hospital, Mather Hospital, STARS Rehabilitation and Long Island Cancer Help and Wellness Center.  New venues are always considered. Strength for Life relies on our fundraising efforts to afford these programs and your help is greatly appreciated.

Need ideas for ways to give: 

We are holding our Third Annual Recognition Dinner on June 1st at the Upsky in Hauppauge. Our honorees this year are Annette Gerani, Maryann Graham and Margaret McAdorey - who we are blessed to know. Besides your attendance, IF you have friends/family/business associates who would donate an item for our raffle - we would be so happy. Times are tough out there in 'solicitation land' and our raffles bring in money used for the equipment we provide the survivors as well as the retreat and classes. We can furnish a letter, tax ID form and any information desired to procure an in-kind donation. Thank you, thank you!

OR

Please consider a donation to our team "Strength for Life" participating in the LI2Day Walk for Breast and Other Women's Cancers on June 7th. Each team member is committed to raise $500 - every dollar helps.

Long Island 2 Day Walk to Fight Breast Cancer

www.li2daywalk.org

These are simple ways you can help your friends, family and neighbors that are battling cancer feel their absolute best during treatment and recovery. There are so many recent studies regarding exercise during treatment and recovery here is just one.

Drink the water that changes the world and support ‘Strength for Life’

Now, with your help, every time you purchase a bottle of My Cause Water, you're creating a ripple effect of giving, support and connection. By simply designating a cause of interest, your creating here, you're creating a change in the world, a nickel at a time.

To find the causes of your choice, use the search tool to type in the name of the organization “Strength for Life”, keywords or zip code “11776” or search by category “health”.

As you may have read, Strength for Life is local grassroots non-profit that provides FREE exercise classes and wellness retreats to cancer patients/survivors on Long Island.  We rely on our fundraising efforts to afford these programs at no cost to survivors.  Every dollar makes a difference and every nickel adds up – so please consider purchasing this water and designating Strength for Life as your choice of beneficiaries. 

If you are on Face Book – please “like” Strength for Life and My Cause Water, you will see both Pathmark and Waldbaum’s sell “My Cause Water” as do other local vendors.  In addition to what is personally designated to the charity, at the end of each month all the undesignated proceeds are collected and raffled to a registered non – profit.  We hope that we win/win with your purchases, designation and the raffle opportunities.  We are mindful that every $$ helps.

 

 

“Water never waits. It changes shape and floes around things, and finds the secret paths no one else thought about the tiny hole through the roof or the bottom of a box. There's no doubt it's the most versatile of the five elements. It can wash away earth, it can put out fire; it can wear a piece of metal down and can sweep it away. Even wood, which is its natural complement, can ‘survive without being nurtured by water.”  ~ Arthur Golden, Memoirs of a Geisha

 

DON'T BE LEFT OUT..of the LI2Day Walk for Breast Cancer and Other Women's Cancers

DON'T BE LEFT OUT...IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY REGISTERED 

PLEASE REGISTER TODAY. THERE ARE 87 WALKER SPOTS LEFT. 

Join team "Strength for Life"...help us help your friends, family and neighbors diagnosed with cancer.... 

WALKER REGISTRATION WILL CLOSE AT 600 WALKERS OR ON MAY 1ST (whichever comes first)

Register at : Long Island 2 Day Breast Cancer Walk

Not interested in walking, here are options 

• become a virtual walker and still a part of team "Strength for Life"

• donate to support our team.  Every $$ helps $5 - $10 

 whatever your pocketboook will allow

To give : Donate here

Team - Strength for Life

or ID 14580

or Jacqueline Errico

or anyone else on our team - we are all in this together

"To live fully is to let go and die with each passing moment, and to be reborn with each new one." ~ Jack Kornfield

Join this Adventure Race to Support Strength for Life

Strength for Life is a non- profit organization providing FREE exercise classes and wellness retreats to cancer patients/survivors on LI. Our immediate purpose is to help cancer patients feel their absolute best, to regain their ‘strength for life’, improve their daily functional activities, quality of life and self esteem. 

The ultimate mission is to educate the medical community on the benefits of adding exercise to the treatment and recovery plan.  In 2010 the American College of Sports Medicine changed their guidelines for cancer patients to “avoid inactivity” and to date there are many studies touting the benefits of exercise.  The medical community needs to be more pro-active in adding an exercise prescription to their treatment plan. 

Strength for Life is committed to make classes as accessible as possible to all cancer patients/survivors in Nassau and Suffolk counties by seeking donated space at a location convenient to the group to eliminate the travel burden from the survivors.  We provide the equipment for each to keep and continue the exercises at home.  Strength for Life maintains these programs at no cost to the survivor to eliminate any financial burden. 

We rely on our fundraising efforts to afford these programs, so we ask that you support our events such as this June 1st Adventure Race in Calverton. It is a family-friendly event and a memory that you can talk about for years to come. Use code ‘S4LIFE’ for a $5.00 discount and show your support through our organization.

Not interested in that kind of adventure - we are having a Zumbathon on May 16 in Wading River and a Survivor Recognition Dinner on the evening of June 1st.  Visit our website for these and other future events or to make a donation www.strengthforlifeNY.org.

Thank you - we appreciate your support helping us to help others.

Join the fun in Strength for Life's 1st Annual "Zumbathon"!!!

Strength for Life is holding our first annual Zumbathon at Wading River Elementary School on May 16 from 6:30 – 9pm. We rely on our fundraising efforts to afford our programs at no cost to survivor – so please consider joining and sharing this event. For further information call 631-675-6513 or go to our website www.strengthforlifeNY.org

Strength for Life is a non profit organization which provides FREE exercise classes and wellness retreats to adult cancer patients and survivors regardless of diagnosis, gender or age.
 
9 years ago Evelyn Knapp, a 40 year old, mom of 3 little girls, exercise physiologist and business owner, lost her fight with breast cancer. Evelyn always believed in exercise and nutrition for optimal health - so much so that she started Personal Training Institute so she may help as many people as possible lead healthy lives. When she was diagnosed it was a shock to all whoknew her - she was the epitome of health - this goes to show that cancer does not discriminate. Exercising gave Evelyn her control back over a body that she felt betrayed her and she made it her mission to help all cancer patients feel the same.
 
After Evelyn died, Strength for Life was formed to keep her vision and her memory alive - not only for her little girls, but for all the cancer patients who so desperately want and need to stay strong throughout treatment and recovery.
 
Since 2007, when Strength for Life was officially formed, we have helped over 1000 cancer patients and survivors regain their “strength for life”. We hold classes at Stony Brook Cancer
Center, Winthrop University, Mather Hospital, STARS Rehab (part of NSLIJ), Long Island Cancer Wellness Center, and are very active with support groups through out Long Island. Aside from Certified Cancer Exercise Specialist leading the exercise classes, we also provide exercise equipment for our clients to keep - all of this is free of charge.
 
In 2009 we introduced our Wellness Retreats. To date we have held 12 retreats, hosting more than 200 cancer patients to a weekend getaway in which they are exposed to a variety of healing modalities. We provide all meals, hotel room accommodations, classes and lectures from renowned Naturopathic and Osteopathic Doctors as well as other informative guest speakers. Again, all free of charge.
 
We have 5 star rating on “Great Non Profits” with comments from our clients stating they had a “life changing” ,“powerful” and“nurturing” experience. 

Join us for our first annual 'Zumbathon'

Thank you, Karen, for organizing this event!