Monday, May 21, 2012

Shimmies for Life - A Belly Dancing Success

Mishaal Pagano, an angel to Strength for Life, contacted us months ago and suggested a belly dancing fundraiser that she would organize, promote and star in. Yesterday, the event went off beautifully. 

Mishaal opened with a sword balancing "tribal" belly dance, unbelievable to imagine an undulating body balancing a sword...WOW, is all I can say. Debbie filmed and photographed, so as soon as we can upload these, I will add some photos.



Thank you Mishall and all the dancers for volunteering your time and sharing your talents.


hmmmm! Could belly dancing be our next endeavor at the Wellness Retreat?????




"The truest expression of a people is in its dances and its music. Bodies never lie."~ Agnes de Mille ~

Good News!!!

Strength for Life has so much news to share!

At the Breast Cancer Summit, held May 11 at Carlysle on the Green, we were honored to receive this "Certificate of Recognition" from Suffolk County Legislator William Spencer for "dedicated service in enhancing the recovery process and improving functional activities for those who have received a cancer diagnosis."



Thank you! Strength for Life has been growing and reaching many more individuals with our various class locations and by sharing at support groups the benefits of adding exercise to their treatment and recovery plan.

In addition, we are hosting our first "Survivor Recognition" - Rockin' FUNraising Event at the Heritage Center on June 8, 2012. The event is to honor three extraordinary survivors who "Inspire, Strengthen and Empower" others.


In June, we will have a second "H3 Initiative -Hammock Hiking for Humanity". Strength for Life was honored to meet Raul Perez last year when he offered to do a fund-raising event for us. The "H3 Initiative" of 2011 raised $1165 for Strength for Life with an additional $300 donated to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy; this year the goal is $3000 with 20% to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and Raul has a personal pledge of 10% to the Alzheimer's Foundation. Donations to help Raul achieve these awesome goals are appreciated.

Our Wellness Retreat will be held in October and there are already 46 on the list for 20 spots. Unfortunately we were not able to get the same hotel rooms and deals for March and/or June or we would have at least one more. If anyone reading this has hotel connections and wants to help Strength for Life, please contact us. Remember these Wellness Retreats are offered at NO cost to cancer patients/survivors. The weekend includes a variety of modalities of exercise, including strength training, yoga, tai chi, meditation, Reiki along with incredible speakers on "Complementary Therapies", "Nutrition" and more.

And soon we will be working on our Third Annual "Evelyn Knapp Run to Remember" which will be held November 18, 2012. This year we will be holding our first "Survivor Walk" concurrently at Sunken Meadow State Park. We are seeking sponsors to help defer the many costs of these events.
Our fund-raising efforts, alone, allow Strength for Life to continue to hold classes, at various locations, provide equipment and hold our Wellness Retreats all at no cost to survivors.

"Great opportunities to help others seldom come,
but small ones surround us everyday." ~Sally Koch

Saturday, May 19, 2012




”In the arena of human life the honors and rewards fall to those who show their good qualities in action.” --Aristotle

Friday, January 27, 2012

Happy New Year 2012

Again, apologies for the lapses here - but the "paying" job just seems to get in the way...blogs are at the end of a long lists of things I want to accomplish.

Updates.... we are in our second round at STARS Rehabilitation - with gusto since the Monter Cancer Center has really put it out there and the phone just keeps on ringing,  It is all good - the simple drawback is the size of the room at STARS can only accommodate six individuals.  I am currently holding back to back classes on Friday to accommodate more.  Let's see how the universe will help us out here :)

On a personal note, I had my first New York cross country skiing adventure with that last snow storm - got turned around in Connetquot State Park and turned out to be just short of five hours.  Still recovering 5 days later :(

I wanted to  share our plan for the 2012 3rd Annual "Run to Remember" along with an Inaugural Walk, simultaneously, on the Sunken Meadow Boardwalk.  Everyone invited!!!

Please cast a vote for us...or one a day whatever you can do - it will help us and share our name.

Friday, December 23, 2011

Happy Healthy Holidays to ALL

As you may know, I have been forced to take a "paying" job which takes so much time away from the things I love "Strength for Life".  But as everything in life this will be a temporary position and I will again have time to write blogs and articles and share with you.

My thoughts, prayers and well wishes are with you for a very happy holiday season and the very best in 2012.

"Joy is not in things; it is in us."
~Benjamin Franklin