Women's Cancer Resource Center

The Women’s Cancer Resource Center improves equitable access to cancer information, support and care.

All of our services are free, and are funded entirely by charitable giving.

ENORMOUS THANKS to Page Hodel for gifting us with the use of these hearts from her Monday Hearts for Madelene project!

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Welcome to the Volunteer edition of WCRC’s e-newsletter!

April is the traditional month to celebrate volunteers, and at WCRC we recognize everyday how our volunteers continue to expand WCRC’s ability to provide programs and services to its clients. In 2022 alone, WCRC volunteers helped serve 240 people who received awards from its monthly Financial Assistance program; 35 clients received calls from Information and Referral volunteers; 52 clients received individual counseling from volunteer therapists in the Free Therapy Program, and there were nearly 500 interactions with WCRC at outreach events.

WCRC just had its inaugural group volunteer work party on April 15! As part of UC Berkeley’s Berkeley Project Day, 16 student volunteers gathered at the WCRC office and transformed the grounds and gardens with their hard work, energy and amazing can-do attitudes! Overgrown flower beds were cleared, roots and all. Potted plants were moved to new homes, sidewalks were swept clean, trimmings bagged, windows washed, and most importantly, new relationships were formed.

Members of Berkeley Compassion and Bioprinting@Berkeley (above) made quick work of the tasks at hand while also making it so much FUN! In addition, the hard work, preparation and planning done by volunteer Master Gardener, Miriam Spilman (right), made the day possible, and her husband, Ben, kept us all fortified and delighted with his delicious cookies!

WCRC staff members Amy Alanes and Cara Keller, along with their respective partners, Donny and Manuel, kept us on track, on time, and safe. Together we worked, took breaks, ate, laughed and got to know each other. Thank you to each volunteer and to Berkeley Project Day for the opportunity to come together and be in a community of service.

With appreciation to all WCRC volunteers, each of you, whatever form your service takes – in person or virtual, high visibility or behind-the-scenes, frequent or occasional, long-term or recent – with you as an integral part of the WCRC community, the possibilities are as boundless as our thanks.

--
Audrey Shoji
Volunteer Manager

It's the 28th Annual and There's Still Room in the Pool!

The Swim A Mile/ Move A Mile for Women with Cancer

May 6-7, 2023

- Make a difference in the lives of people with cancer.
- Enjoy team-building while supporting a great cause.
- Opportunities to sponsor, volunteer or participate

Learn More at www.wcrc.org/swim.

Local Artist Designs Swim A Mile / Move A Mile T-Shirt

WCRC is grateful to Eve Lynne Robinson for her design of this year’s Swim A Mile / Move A Mile for Women with Cancer*!

Eve Lynne is an Oakland, CA-based artist and holistic healing entrepreneur. She spends her time engaging in her surrounding neighborhood as well as dedicating her time creating one-of-a-kind ceramics, illustrations and other mixed media forms. Having an exuberant passion for creative means, Eve Lynne developed Ella B. Jenkins in 2007 to inspire, highlight and advocate for the celebration of Black culture. For years she has thrived making art in her home studio, creating personal pieces that amplify the voices of the underrepresented, joining in collaboration with local activists and motivators of social change, and highlighting extraordinary efforts and progress made by Black artists and innovators who challenge the status quo.

Eve Lynne continues to promote these messages using the stories, adventures and merchandise of Ella B. Jenkins, to engage current and budding organizers by furthering awareness around social injustices inflicted upon Black communities and other communities of color.

Check out Eve Lynne's website HERE.

*Guaranteed availability for every Swim A Mile / Move A Mile participant!

Living With Purpose & Hope

Nancy Chang, founder of Purpose & Hope, understands the importance of healing and strengthening foods for every person along their own individual health journey. Guided by her own mother’s experience with cancer and chemotherapy treatments, Nancy has created a business that connects mind, body, and soul through nourishing nutrient-rich broths.

WCRC is grateful to Nancy for donating these delicious broths to WCRC clients to support their health and well-being through cancer treatment and beyond. Hwee, a WCRC client, said, “I get a very warm feeling after consuming the soup, a loving kindness that is sent to me.”

You can support Nancy’s work in our community by becoming a Soup Sponsor. As a Soup Sponsor, every dollar you donate will go directly toward providing free soups to clients at The Women’s Cancer Resource Center.

Follow Nancy and Purpose & Hope Soup on Instagram @purposeandhope.

Community Partner | EpicCare

This month, WCRC hosted a community dialogue in collaboration with Epic Care. Leann Blankenship, MD, and Elaine Lee, MD, shared updated cancer screening guidelines and discussed various risk factors for women. Twenty clients participated and were able to address questions directly to Dr. Blankenship and Dr. Lee.

“We value Epic Care and their commitment to working with us to ensure our clients and community members have the latest information in cancer care,” said Amy Alanes, Executive Director.

"The health of an individual is reflective of the health of the community. Outreach activities allow us to share up-to-date health information with everyone which may impact their medical decision making or allow them to be advocates for their loved ones."

- Elaine Lee, MD FACS | Breast Surgery

Follow Epic Care on social media!

Instagram: @epic_care

Facebook: @EpicCare

Community Partner | Walk Strong Bay Area

WCRC recently hosted the Board of Directors of Walk Strong Bay Area, a community-based organization that partners with breast cancer health organizations that provide support to people from diagnosis to recovery. They presented WCRC with a $9,000 donation for our Faith Fancher Breast Cancer Fund! We are deeply grateful for their support and their donation will be used to provide financial assistance grants to people with breast cancer in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties.

For more information about their annual walk fundraiser, visit www.walkstrongbayarea.org.

Do You Have A Talent or Passion to Share With WCRC Clients?

WCRC’s wellness programs promote healthy living, cancer risk-reduction and quality of life through creativity, movement, mindfulness and education. Our workshops give our clients the opportunity to move their bodies, be creative, learn about food wellness, and expand their spirits in a supportive group structure. We are highlighting two of our classes, facilitated by volunteers Sarah Huang and Viviana Rios.

If you have an idea for a class or workshop, please contact Denise Jenkins, Program Associate, at [email protected]. 

An Exploration of Poetry with Sarah Huang

Poetry doesn’t have to be complicated, abstract, or too scholarly. Written simply, poetry can be powerful - using language to express your deepest thoughts and feelings.

It’s a creative vehicle that allows you to explore the complex space of your brain: thoughts, emotions, and, ultimately, your story. This workshop will be an exploration of spoken and written poetry. We will be exploring different poetry forms and techniques, and how these forms and techniques can help you tell your story.  

Sarah Huang is a graduate of Cornell University, where she studied Chemical Engineering. She has always been interested in reading and writing poetry, and while at Cornell, took a creative writing class that completely changed the way she thought about poetry and how it could be used to reflect upon her experiences. Sarah hopes that she can share some of these findings with you in this poetry workshop!

Doodles & Scribbles with Viviana Rios  

Do you ever miss the silly, childish nature of making little doodles, coloring outside the lines, and creating your own little worlds with the touch of a crayon? Come join us in the exploration of our creative inner-child! Each month we will have a theme to reflect on, then use our unique experiences and outlooks.

Viviana shares “I am volunteering with WCRC because I am passionate about women's health. I am particularly drawn to the work that WCRC does in promoting and providing healthcare services to women in need, and I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to such a worthy cause. I hope through my work with WCRC I am able to make a meaningful difference in the lives of women in the Berkeley community. My workshop Doodles and Scribbles brings back the lighthearted and unrestricted nature of drawing. Rather than focus on the details, I hope that attendees feel joy in the process itself of making art, so that by the end of the session they have made a piece they are proud of!”

Check out our online calendar of classes to sign up or for more information!

Volunteer Spotlight

Viviana Rios

Wellness Program Volunteer

When lockdowns put a hold on her in-person volunteer work at a women’s shelter in Berkeley, Viviana was looking for other ways to give back. She knows the impact she and her fellow UC Berkeley students have on the area and wants to make sure it’s a positive one. Inspired by an artist friend on Zoom, she began facilitating a remote Wellness Workshop for our clientele that evokes childhood and relaxation time. Having firsthand family experience of the difficulties that can come with a diagnosis, she has appreciated the ability to explore her own creativity in building and facilitating her own workshop, and bringing her passions to the organization, which have in turn allowed others to explore their own connection to making their own art. In her free time, she enjoys baking for others - banana bread is always a favorite.

Doodles & Scribbles: Explore Your Inner Child

3rd Friday of each month, 5:30-6:30 pm

Register for Doodles & Scribbles: Explore Your Inner Child now!

Caitlin Subijanto

Help Desk Volunteer

A sophomore in public health and sociology at UC Berkeley, Caitlin became involved with WCRC via a classmate, and has been working with us since June 2022 as one of our longest-serving active student volunteers. She appreciates the opportunity to support the WCRC’s client base as well as its staff, who she says are helpful and have a broad knowledge base. In her free time, she has recently taken up knitting again, and (when the weather allows) enjoys taking in the Bay Area sunset from her rooftop.