Healing Odyssey is a blessing to women cancer survivors. I love my sister dearly and was supportive in every way from the day she shared her breast cancer diagnosis. However, I can’t say I understood how she was feeling going through each step of fighting this disease. When she came back from a Healing Odyssey retreat, her entire outlook had changed. She was uplifted even if she was still going through chemo and a double mastectomy was scheduled. These women gave her hope. Later, I was fortunate to meet some of the survivors and the organizers at their fundraising event. The room was filled with smiles, love and understanding and it was heartfelt. The organizers are incredibly talented and caring. I was impressed with their positive spirit of giving each other support; it was contagious. I’m encouraging family and friends to attend the Healing Odyssey retreats because no one should feel alone going through a cancer journey.
I have been involved with Healing Odyssey since 2001, the year I went to their weekend retreat. It was a transformative experience that I shared with 30 other women, all of whom have experienced cancer in their life's journey. Since 2018, I have been actively involved in staffing weekend retreats. I have seen hundreds of women who start out in fear and trepidation leave the weekend with hope and inspiration. This small group of dedicated, lightly paid and unpaid volunteers continue to change the lives of women experiencing cancer in a very positive way.
I have been working as a volunteer for Healing Odyssey for over 20 yrs. I am a current Board member and Retreat Leader. I am a mental health professional who has worked full time for most of my career in health care. I have been involved with Healing Odyssey because I have been able to see first hand the life differences this program can make. Now mostly retired, I spent many years facilitating Cancer Support groups. Groups are very helpful but they do not make the long term impact that I have witnessed from the weekend retreat program.
Currently Healing Odyssey is the only retreat program offering a low cost or free (dependent on financial need) still operating in Orange County, CA. It is open to all women Cancer survivors in the US.
I've been to several of the weekend experiential retreats and gained so much through both of them. The first one was about 1 1/2 years after my initial diagnosis, so I was already done with treatment. It was great to be with so many women going through the same experience. The Ropes Course & other activities helped me understand the fear of cancer and that I could walk through the fear. After I finished the first weekend, I signed up for a stand-up comedy writing class because I was no longer afraid to do things that scared me. I ended up performing at the famous Comedy Store Club on Sunset Boulevard. I also had several of my jokes published in a national joke compilation book.
The 2nd retreat I went to was the Grad Retreat for people who had already been through the 1st retreat. I was in remission for quite awhile at this point and was able to share that recovery with newer women; that there was hope on the other side.
They also do various get-togethers during the year to celebrate anniversaries of recovery and attendance at retreats.
Healing Odyssey is a tremendous organization and I'm grateful that they continue to do the work that helps so many women walk through a terrifying and challenging diagnosis.
Healing Odyssey gave me my life back after the medical treatment teams saved my life. After attending this life changing retreat for cancer survivors, I was forever changed as I no longer live in fear of recurrence and have created the closest friendships and bonds to fellow survivors in my region. I am forever grateful to the volunteers who run this small but mighty organization. Proud to be a HO!
As a board member for Healing Odyssey, I have been in the front seat watching this amazing nonprofit change the lives of women cancer survivors. Through an integrated 2 1/2 day retreat program offered high in the mountain air, Healing Odyssey brings together women who have been diagnosed with any cancer, women who are in treatment , or are cured or in remission. The retreat is staffed with experienced oncology professionals and knowledgeable staff. The program addresses the fears that women deal with following a cancer diagnosis and how to better address those fears. It Includes challenging outdoor activities that build back a sense of personal empowerment, as well as spiritual and physical sessions that engender a sense of well-being. Connections formed between campers are often listed as an extremely important outcome of the retreat.
Women come down the mountain changed, empowered, connected and feeling whole and loved. Families and spouses have made comments about the changes they see and feel in their loved one. Healing Odyssey is a gift to all women who attend, and a program that has exhibited its amazing and transformative value for over 25 years.
I attended the very first retreat in 1994 as a participant. I was two years out from my breast cancer treatment at the age of 42. I those 2 1/2 days, I learned that bringing more joy into my life I needed to stay present/in the moment. I learned that it is okay to feel fear and take a step forward anyway. And I learned to ask for support. To put it simply, the retreat changed my life and I ended up volunteering as a retreat yoga teacher and counselor for the next 18 years. Each time reinforced my learnings until they became second nature. I use these them in my daily life and often with my clients. To this day, I have reminders of Healing Odyssey retreats hanging on my office walls...."breathing is good". Barri C
Healing Odyssey(HO) changed my life (I don't think I am alone in this feeling!). I attended in 1997 on a scholarship and have volunteered in almost every year since. The weekend provides tools for life for women cancer survivors. I have seen first hand as staff that it's proven program still works it's magic as it did for me. Tangible skills are gained in a safe space to help you move forward. I am grateful.
Of note is that it does all of this on the modest of budgets-every contribution makes a measurable difference in providing needed funding in order for HO to provide this experience at minimal cost, and to provide scholarships for those who cannot afford even that.
“Healing Odyssey, a Southern California nonprofit organization, 503c,has been dedicated to providing healing and support for survivors through their transformative retreats. Located in the serene Running Springs, California, these retreats offer a safe space for survivors to heal, grow, and find solace. To continue their mission, Healing Odyssey is organizing a fundraising events for 2024! This retreat changed my life, it will change yours too!”
I found Healing Odyssey at a low point in my life. Cancer struck, my brother was killed on his motorcycle and 6 months later I lost my father. I needed direction and the Healing Odyssey
retreat gave me what I needed. Compassion, sisterhood and the ability to move from "what was" to "what could be". I attended the retreat in 2001, hosted the Holiday Party for 20 years and met the most lovely people who are still in my life 23 years later. I came away from the retreat and my first words were "I am Woman, Watch me Roar". Healing Odyssey gave me the tools to become a better version of myself and for that I am eternally grateful. God Bless Healing Odyssey.
I have been to the Healing Odyssey Retreat and really saw a difference in my overall outlook on life after Cancer. The empowerment I received did so much for me, I tell everyone about it and I can thank the wonderful counselors who walked me through all of it. I also became a counselor myself and really enjoyed watching the other women grow in just 3 short days. It is a group that I really enjoy participating in and hope we are able to help a lot of other women cancer survivors.