[Ottawa] – June 1, 2014 is National Cancer Survivors Day. On that day, and during the first week of June, the Canadian Cancer Survivors Network (CCSN) will honour the strength and courage of cancer survivors with Coffee Party with a Purpose, a fundraising event designed to raise awareness of CCSN’s mission of supporting cancer survivors and working to improve their quality of life.
CCSN invites individuals and corporations across the country to hold a Coffee Party with a Purpose in their own offices or in their own homes. By simply putting on a pot of coffee or tea and inviting friends or colleagues to join and make a small donation to the cause, Canadians can help support those who, from the moment of diagnosis through the remainder of life, inspire others to think about and better understand the cancer journey.
“Surviving cancer is more than just living. It’s an attitude about life and living each day to the fullest,” says CCSN Board Member Mona Forrest, Coffee Party with a Purpose organizer for CCSN. You will find our community’s Coffee Party events filled with joy, camaraderie, hope, compassion, faith, and love as we honor cancer survivors for their strength and courage. We will also recognize the contributions of their families, friends, and healthcare providers and discuss the issues faced by cancer survivors today.”
Canadian Cancer Statistics 2013 tell us that at the beginning of 2009, there were about 838,724 Canadians living with and beyond a cancer that had been diagnosed in the previous 10 years. Major advances in cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment have resulted in longer survival, and therefore, a growing number of cancer survivors. However, a cancer diagnosis can leave a host of problems in its wake. Physical, financial, and emotional hardships often persist after diagnosis and treatment. Survivors may face many challenges, such as limited access to cancer specialists and promising new treatments, inadequate or no insurance, financial hardships, difficulty finding employment, psychosocial struggles, and a lack of understanding from family and friends.
“Despite these challenges, cancer survivors live full, productive lives and serve as an inspiration to all of us,” says Mona.
Individuals and companies interested in hosting a Coffee Party with a Purpose can contact participate@survivornet.ca for a registration kit.
About National Cancer Survivors Day®
National Cancer Survivors Day® is Sunday, June 1, 2014. This 27th annual celebration of life will be held in hundreds of communities worldwide. Cancer survivors, caregivers, family members, friends, and healthcare professionals will unite to show that life after a cancer diagnosis can be meaningful, productive, and even inspiring.
Canadian Cancer Survivors Network (CCSN)
CCSN works to connect patients, survivors and other stakeholder groups with decision makers and the wider community to engage in discussion and to act on evidence-based best practices to alleviate the medical, emotional, financial and social costs of cancer and encourage research on ways to overcome barriers to optimal cancer care and follow-up for survivors in Canada.