Join The Journey

Programs: Join the journey ninth annual ten mile breast cancer awareness walk: held in september, raises awareness about breast cancer and provides the community with information and direct support. Served over 972 people in 2014.

pink ribbon mentorship program: this is a volunteer mentorship program, which provides on and off site emotional, informational, and experiential support to women and men undergoing breast cancer treatment. On site mentors are available to visit with patients after breast cancer surgery and in the chemotherapy suite while patients are receiving treatment. Telephone, email and off site face to face visits are also part of the mentorship services. This program assisted approximately 3,236 patients in 2014, volunteering over 3,200 hours. They also distribute our essentials gift bags, which contain essential items for coping with radiation and/or chemotherapy treatment.

join the journey chemo care program: this program provides direct support to women undergoing chemotherapy at the mayo clinic, rochester, minnesota. 417 gift cards for fuel and groceries were given to those in need by chemotherapy nurses while receiving treatment. In addition, funds were donated to the chemo unit to provide popsicles, which help prevent mouth sores for chemo patients, and udder cream, a lotion to help with dry skin. In 2014, this program assisted approximately 942 patients struggling to cope with daily expenses associated with long term medical care.

making waves program: this is a floating support group of join the journey. Research has shown that breast cancer survivors who engage in repetitive activities, such as paddling, develop a marked improvement in both physical and mental health. Equipped with the positive effects of dragon boating, a group of enthusiastic breast cancer survivors and supporters paddle every wednesday evening in the summer on silver lake in rochester, minnesota and hold quarterly social events. The team continues to meet in the winter months working on stretching and strength training. 331 participants/members were involved in this program in 2014. Join the journey book program: every newly diagnosed breast cancer patient at mayo clinic and olmsted medical center receives the book "mayo clinic guide to women's cancers". Join the journey has distributed more than 12,881 books to date, including 1,004 books this year. Many book recipients have expressed a feeling of empowerment with the easy to read information on breast and gynecologic cancer diagnosis, treatment, recovery, recurrence and end of life issues. Winter workout: dance/exercise sessions offered weekly during the fall and winter months at fred astaire dance studio. Participation is open to any breast cancer survivors or supporters in our community free of charge. This program offers exercise and camaraderie and allows survivors to gain support from those who have been in thier position. There were 192 participants in 2014. Breast cancer support group: a traditional support group setting with two facilitators who are breast cancer survivors offer support to other breast cancer survivors. Offered monthly at the hope lodge. There were 92 participants in 2014. Creative support series: join the journey partners with local artists and the mayo cancer education program to offer creative art sessions to any patient or supporters in the gonda 10 lobby of the mayo clinic, once per week in the afternoons. This program helps encourage healing through artistic expression, camaraderie with other patients awaiting treatment, and perhaps an escape from the stress of the waiting room. There were 422 participants in 2014.