Our ‘Living beyond cancer’ projects are great at giving us feedback! Remember we told you about Rocheplane medical centre’s climbing sessions, for which we recently received lots of positive comments from participants? Here’s a donation update on two projects we supported in Calgary that have a particular focus on young people. 

The PEER programme

Carolina Chamorro Vina, PhD, from the Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta, and Manny Ester, Phd, PEER exercise specialist, have been in frequent touch with us. Carolina sent us this recently:

“I want to extend our heartfelt thanks for the incredible opportunity to run a climbing module with our teens at the PEER Program. We are so proud of what we were able to accomplish, and deeply grateful for your support in making it possible.

We successfully completed an 8-week program, with one 2-hour session each week. A total of 21 teens participated, and we received 18 responses to our post-program survey.

I’ve been running the PEER Program since 2012, and I can confidently say this climbing module has been one of the most impactful experiences we’ve offered. Over the past eight weeks, we’ve seen tremendous growth in our teens—increased self-confidence, trust-building, and the ability to face and overcome fear. It was truly inspiring to witness their progress and enjoyment.

The staff at The Hangar Climbing Centre played a huge role in the program’s success. They were outstanding—offering positive reinforcement, encouraging autonomy, and creating a safe and welcoming space that allowed the youth to thrive.

Where We Are Now

• Completed the 8-week module

• Analyzed participant feedback

• Preparing to provide families with climbing passes to encourage continued practice, either independently or in community sessions

Next Steps

• Develop a detailed manual of the climbing module

• Incorporate suggestions for improvement and areas for growth

• Enhance the assessment tools used to track progress

• Plan a 3–4 session introductory module for children aged 6–12 in September/October 2025

Given the overwhelmingly positive outcomes, we’re eager to make this module a sustainable part of the PEER Program.”

Carolina promises to keep us updated as they move forward with the manual. They hope to share results, possibly through publication, and have invited us to be part of that review process.

Wellspring

Gina Chavez Director, Strategic Partnerships at Wellspring Cancer support in Alberta sent us an impact report. It highlights key achievements, powerful member testimonials, and “the meaningful difference (our) contributions have made.”

She adds, “We hope this report offers you a glimpse into the lives you’ve touched. Thanks to your extraordinary generosity last year, our impact has reached new heights in 2024.

CAC’s support has enabled us to continue to provide life-changing programs—completely free of charge—to individuals facing a cancer diagnosis, along with their caregivers and families. Your support ensures that no one has to face cancer alone.

In 2024, Wellspring Alberta supported 3,106 individuals living with cancer.

Our programs saw 40,396 visits, marking a 10% increase from the previous year. To meet this growing demand, we delivered 6,539 hours of programming, a 5% increase from the previous year.

This program is providing young adults affected by cancer with an invaluable opportunity to improve both their physical and mental well-being. Research shows that exercise can significantly enhance quality of life by reducing fatigue, anxiety, and chemotherapy-related symptoms. Equally important, social connection plays a crucial role in the healing journey, particularly for young adults who have unique psychosocial needs. Through this program, participants can challenge themselves, build confidence, and form meaningful connections in a supportive environment.

Your generosity has helped create a space where encouragement, friendship, and resilience thrive. In 2024 Wellspring Alberta served 31 young adults through our Young Adult Climb Night program. These individuals accessed this program 94 times through 26 hours of programming.”

Members Say it Best

Gina also shared some feedback from the young adults who took part. 

“The young adult programs at Wellspring provide me with the opportunity to connect with others. Being able to reach out to another young adult when I am worrying about something related to my diagnosis means that I don’t have to carry the weight of my journey alone, and neither do they. Knowing you’re not alone and that there are other people who can understand what you’re going through helps to keep my mental health more manageable.”

“Connecting with other young adult cancer survivors was a great help for me in my cancer journey. Being able to discuss my diagnosis with others with the same diagnosis in the same age group was invaluable in helping me to understand my diagnosis and to cope with the situation.”

Gina says: “We couldn’t have done it without your generous support. Every day, over 60 Albertans hear the words: “You have cancer.” One in two of us will hear these words in our lifetime. Fortunately, Alberta has Wellspring… with a vision to ensure no one has to face cancer alone. And fortunately, Wellspring has you. We can continue to offer evidence-informed programs and services to support cancer patients, their caregivers, and their families.

We can only do this work because of you! Thanks to your generosity and compassion, those who are living with cancer, and their families, will be supported, uplifted, and empowered to live as well as possible.”

2024 Mission Survey Information

• 95% agree Wellspring improved their quality of life
• 97% agree Wellspring helped them feel less isolated
• 98% agree Wellspring improved their mental health

We at CAC think these figures speak for themselves, proving that Climbing beyond cancer is not only possible but also beneficial. And that’s all down to your purchases from the shop, and/or your amazing fundraising efforts. We can’t thank you enough.