Wind River Cancer Wellness Retreats & Programs
  • Home
    • Mission
    • Our Team
    • In Loving Memory
  • Programs
    • Cancer Wellness Retreats
  • Resources
    • Cancer Resources
    • Wind River's Relaxation CD
    • Healthy Recipes
  • Sponsors
  • Blog

What's Happening

The latest on events, retreats and more...



Click below to have our latest posts sent to your email:

Signup to Receive Blog Posts

Introduction to Trauma Informed-Care

9/18/2023

0 Comments

 
Picture


​Awesome self-care opportunity!   Don't miss it.  Becca is a wonderful guide in the area of living your best life, by starting with your self-care!


FREE ZOOM

Friday September 29th
12PM - 12:45PM
Presented by Becca Odom Wellness

Register HERE
0 Comments

Transforming Trauma: The Healing Art of Writing

9/11/2023

0 Comments

 
Picture
Third Thursday each month – Sept. 21st, Oct. 19th. Nov. 16th
3PM – 4PM
​

By Kiesa Kay. A monthly series of supported exercises in writing, art, and dance that will help release past pain and reclaim our power.

https://survivorspace.org/events/healing-art-of-writing/


The Transforming Trauma Workshop is a monthly series of supported exercises in writing, art, and dance that will help us love ourselves and release past pain as we reclaim our power.

During this one-hour workshop on the healing art of writing, you’ll learn fundamental skills you’ll need on the journey of telling your own story. We’ll talk about creating a sustainable life, setting aside time for writing, shielding ourselves from reliving the trauma as we express it, and self-care. When you go hiking, you make sure to have plenty of water, sunscreen, and good shoes. When you go writing, you make sure to have plenty of courage, support, and good tools. This workshop will give you the basics for beginning, including writing prompts and information on how to pace and protect yourself. All participants also will have the opportunity to schedule a one-on-one session with the facilitator about specific projects. 


0 Comments

When someone dies, the first thing to do is nothing,

9/9/2023

0 Comments

 
Picture
beautiful piece to help anyone who may find themselves in the presence of a loved one at the time of their transition ...


When someone dies, the first thing to do is nothing. Don't run out and call the nurse. Don't pick up the phone. Take a deep breath and be present to the magnitude of the moment. 

There's a grace to being at the bedside of someone you love as they make their transition out of this world. At the moment they take their last breath, there's an incredible sacredness in the space. The veil between the worlds opens.

We're so unprepared and untrained in how to deal with death that sometimes a kind of panic response kicks in. "They're dead!" 

We knew they were going to die, so their being dead is not a surprise. It's not a problem to be solved. It's very sad, but it's not cause to panic.

If anything, their death is cause to take a deep breath, to stop, and be really present to what's happening. If you're at home, maybe put on the kettle and make a cup of tea.

Sit at the bedside and just be present to the experience in the room. What's happening for you? What might be happening for them? What other presences are here that might be supporting them on their way? Tune into all the beauty and magic. 

Pausing gives your soul a chance to adjust, because no matter how prepared we are, a death is still a shock. If we kick right into "do" mode, and call 911, or call the hospice, we never get a chance to absorb the enormity of the event.

Give yourself five minutes or 10 minutes, or 15 minutes just to be. You'll never get that time back again if you don't take it now.

After that, do the smallest thing you can. Call the one person who needs to be called. Engage whatever systems need to be engaged, but engage them at the very most minimal level. Move really, really, really, slowly, because this is a period where it's easy for body and soul to get separated.

Our bodies can gallop forwards, but sometimes our souls haven't caught up. If you have an opportunity to be quiet and be present, take it. Accept and acclimatize and adjust to what's happening. Then, as the train starts rolling, and all the things that happen after a death kick in, you'll be better prepared.

You won't get a chance to catch your breath later on. You need to do it now. 

Being present in the moments after death is an incredible gift to yourself, it's a gift to the people you're with, and it's a gift to the person who's just died. They're just a hair's breath away. They're just starting their new journey in the world without a body. If you keep a calm space around their body, and in the room, they're launched in a more beautiful way. It's a service to both sides of the veil.

Sarah Kerr, PhD, The Center for Sacred Deathcare
​https://www.facebook.com/SoulPassages/videos/610729049323633/?t=59
https://sacreddeathcare.com/program/the-principles-of-sacred-deathcare/
August 2018


0 Comments

Bilateral Healing:  The Butterfly Hug

9/6/2023

0 Comments

 
Picture
Special Post from our honored practitioner Becca Odom Wellness.  She is also hosting a FREE workshop called Introduction to Trauma-Informed Care on September 29th from 12PM - 12:45PM EST that you are welcome to register for!  


The Butterfly Hug is an EMDR technique that can be a grounding resource to help you orient to a space and reinforce a positive resource.   


Bilateral stimulation helps the brain process experiences and is something that our brain naturally does during deep states of REM sleep.

We can intentionally use bilateral stimulation to build upon this organic process in a way to move through an experience with more ease and freedom. 
​

Tapping, swaying, running, bouncing - these are all ways to support our mind and body to more effectively move through and complete the stress cycle.  Every little bit counts, it is more about consistency than the quantity when starting a new habit. 

Click here for more free trauma-informed tips and tools and click here to join me this fall for my Ethics of Trauma-Informed Care trainings! 
​

May we all love the life we live…

0 Comments

HeartMath Coherence Advantage Workshop~ Unlock the Power of Your Heart

8/24/2023

0 Comments

 
HeartMath Coherence Advantage Workshop
~ Unlock the Power of Your Heart

Date: Sunday October 22nd
Time: 10am - 4pm
Location: Sanctuary Imports Charlotte NC
To Register for Wind River Community:  https://www.easeyourenergy.org/heartmath-for-wind-river.html
... cost for our cancer survivors will be covered by Wind River

Immerse yourself in a transformative journey where the pulse of your heart guides your path to unshakable coherence. In today's whirlwind of challenges, the stakes are high, but the solutions lie deeper than you might think — within the very rhythm of your heartbeat. 

Dive into the HeartMath workshop, a day of exploration and empowerment, and emerge with the keys to navigate life's tumults with grace, clarity, and inventive prowess. 

Grounded in over three decades of pioneering, peer-reviewed research, our Coherence Advantage program doesn't just inform; it equips you with actionable skills and cutting-edge technology to flourish in a world marked by constant change, adversity, and boundless possibility. 

Imagine a world where…

  • Every morning, you're fueled by a natural zest that powers you through the day.
  • When life's hurdles appear, you harness an inner calm to gracefully navigate them.
  • Your words and thoughts dance together, creating conversations that inspire and uplift.
  • Facing change or challenges? Your intuition stands ready, guiding you towards insightful solutions.

​And so much more!


Picture
0 Comments

​Tai Chi / Qigong Workshop - Presented by Sifu Mike Gentile, Amy Parrott, Laoshi Marsha Brodsky

8/24/2023

0 Comments

 
Picture
ENHANCE YOUR KNOWLEDGE:
1. Taiji breakaway skills for personal protection
2. Centering and grounding meditations
3. Shibashi/Qigong
 
ALL levels of physical ability are
welcome. No experience necessary.
Only $100 per person

Saturday, October 14, 2023
8:30 am- 3:00 pm

- Bring your lunch and beverage
- Coffee/tea, and dessert provided

 
 
-Training will include:
• Taiji 24-Movement Form instruction
• Easy self-defense techniques
• Exercises with martial art equipment (kaibos provided, BYO jo stick)
• Full body and mind relaxation and mindfulness
 

Email Mike@TaiChiMike.com to preregister
Spaces are limited

- Mail checks to: Mike Gentile
9246 Highland Creek Pkwy. # 3305
Charlotte, NC 28269
 
---NEW LOCATION---
CONVENIENT FROM CHARLOTTE & LAKE NORMAN
Congregation House
218 Concord Rd. Davidson, NC
Park free at Baker Sports Complex lot, not in street
and not at CVS (or will be towed!).
From Main St., drive 0.3 miles east on Concord Rd., then left on Baker Dr. 
... Wind River will sponsor survivors who are interested! 
email
Shannon@windriverservices.org
​


0 Comments

A Shout Out of Gratitude to Haylo's Healing Arts Lounge.

8/2/2023

0 Comments

 
A Shout Out of Gratitude to Haylo's Healing Arts Lounge.

Wind River was the beneficiary of this year's Fire Party receiving over $1800 in support for our cancer wellness programs. Cheryl with the help of Deb Culler and Joanne Mason Trull lit the flame to fire patina 50 copper shields that guests personalized and wore home as a memento of the experience. We were so excited to hang out with Wind River alumni; Nikki Milgate, Brendan and Rebecca Scott, Deb Culler, Joanne Mason Trull, and Michelle Shrum. The love and support given to cancer survivors who visit Haylo is truly special and we were honored to be a part of the 8th annual fire party.
​
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

Wind River's Lung Cancer Wellness Retreat

8/2/2023

0 Comments

 
Picture
Wind River brings together cancer survivors who want to further explore living more fully and authentically - mind, body & spirit.

Join us for an in-person Wind River Lung Cancer Wellness Retreat in partnership with the Lung Cancer Initiative (LCI)  

September 22nd, 23rd, & 24th, 2023
Raleigh/Garner, NC
Friday 10:30am through Sunday 4:30pm. (participation across all three days is required; lodging is provided)
NO charge thanks to the Lung Cancer Initiative!

Experience the healing essence of Drumming by the Water, Energization Yoga, Nature Walks in the Botanical Garden, Plant-Based Nutrition, Healing Touch, plus lots of outside time, being playful and connecting with others!  This year, we gather in the serene garden setting of Camp La TeDa that also offers wooded grounds complete with a beautiful sunset lake. Hosted by Cheryl Lecroy, Teri Barron (lung cancer survivor, mentor and Wind River alum) and David Wheeler (lung cancer mentor, caregiver expert, and Wind River retreat alum). 

- Open to both male and female lung cancer survivors residing or receiving treatment in North Carolina.

Information and Application Here

Questions? Reach out to Cheryl at cheryl@windriverservices.org or text her at 864-723-2442

0 Comments

Women's Health Spotlight - Cheryl Lecroy

7/8/2023

0 Comments

 
Picture
Cheryl Lecroy has been an integral part of the Wind River team for 10 years, providing survivor support in nutrition, cooking classes, retreat host, cancer coaching and so much more!  Thank you Cheryl!
​


Reposted from our partner and friends Lung Cancer Initiative of NC.  
Throughout May, we have celebrated #WomensHealthMonth by telling the many stories of the survivors, providers, advocates and countless others who impact the lung cancer community. We would like to close this month with Cheryl Lecroy.

Cheryl is a certified grower and board member of Slow Foods International, producer for Produce RX (a program where doctors prescribe vegetables for low-income, at-risk patients) founder of Creative Juices Consulting and breast cancer survivor. Cheryl has worked with Wind River Cancer Wellness Retreats coaching survivors and building programs on wellness since 2013. Cheryl brings a committed dedication and excitement to sharing wellness practices that enhance the lives and health of cancer survivors.

“This year marks our 6th lung cancer retreat in partnership with LCI, and with this experience, we have learned that lung cancer survivors are simply superheroes. We are honored to continue to offer a little Wind River Magic to the superheroes who attend this special retreat. When survivors attend a Wind River Wellness Retreat, participants come as strangers and leave as family, opening a world of connection, love, hope, and a powerful network to others.”

There are many women in our network of hope and action who provide us all inspiration, motivation, strength and support.


Apply now for our 2023 Wind River Lung Cancer Wellness Retreat

0 Comments

Wind River Fairy Gardens ... and YOU

7/8/2023

0 Comments

 
Picture
In-Person!   
Come meet your Wind River Tribe!
Wind River Magic! 

Come build your own fairy garden, share stories with survivors, AND enjoy award winning BBQ lunch (freshly prepared in front of you!) 

Sign up TODAY

Saturday July 15th
10AM - 3PM
At Wind River's magical fairy-filled creek!

Survivors in treatment, on a pause, or recently done with treatments!

Apply here: WIND RIVER FAIRY GARDEN DAY

0 Comments

​It’s Booty Time!!!

7/5/2023

0 Comments

 
Picture
 
Wind River has been a part of 24 Hours of Booty (of 24 Foundation) from the very beginning, and we LOVE the
energy of this event!! Not to mention all the benefit it provides for integrative cancer support.
This opportunity is open to all survivors. You do not need to be a member of the Wind River 24
Hours Booty Team to participate. Three awesome ways for YOU TO JOIN US for a perfect mid-summer
activity.

1. Survivor Lap – Friday, July 28 th 6:00 p.m. The opening survivor lap is exhilarating and
celebrates all that is SURVIVORSHIP. Ride alongside the Wind River family of survivors
and feel the excitement firsthand. No charge to participate. You may bring your own bike
or limited spaces available for an assisted ride with Speed for Need or on a Tandem
bike.

2. Survivor Café –Saturday, July 29th at 8:00 a.m. in the Mission Tent in Bootyville. (All survivors are welcome for an early morning breakfast with fellow survivors!!!)

3. Volunteer at the Wind River table as a survivor ambassador to share in the energy and
inspiration of all things Booty. We will be hosting a Kindness & Gratitude craft station
where folks can create cards and painted rocks for loved ones. This is a wonderful opportunity to
connect with other survivors, share your Wind River experience and spend time with the
Wind River family and other 24 hours of Booty cyclists and superstars. Plus, this year, we
have a special guest joining in who you will not want to miss!!!

​Sign up to volunteer
HERE:
Questions? Or for more information, reach out to Cheryl at cheryl@windriverservices.org or text to
864-723-2442
0 Comments

RING OF FIRE - Keep Our Community Lit

6/21/2023

0 Comments

 
Picture
Haylo's Healing Arts Lounge is an inspiring tattoo studio in Charlotte.   In addition to providing creative and expressive art to the community at large, they also provide support to our cancer survivors, especially those that have had mastectomies and other surgical scars and body changes.  The founder, Hayley Moran has been a dear supporter of Wind River since the studio's inception. And we are so thankful!

Come discover "What lights you up" during this Fire-studded event. A night of community, creativity, fire performances, Flash Tattoos and our own Cheryl Lecroy offering a FIRE Patina copper for all to enjoy as part of the night's interactive art!

Sat. June 24th
7PM - Midnight
Haylo's Healing Arts Lounge
1111 Central Ave, Lower level, Charlotte, NC


And Wind River is honored to be a beneficiary of this event!
Find out more here.

Or email Cheryl if you wish to help her with our Wind River presence!
0 Comments

​Wind River's Retreat with Lori: Change Your Mind, Create New Results

6/13/2023

0 Comments

 
(NCS: NeuroChangeSolutions as developed by Dr. Joe Dispenza)
Offered by instructor Lori Ives-Godwin in a pictorestic mountain home

 
Wind River is excited to offer a weekend retreat that focuses on life-changing tools to help shift your mind and rewire your brain!  In this 2 day workshop you will learn what stress really is and how to transform it, how to set your energy free, and express your creative potential for life!

Arden, NC  - lodging available
Fri. Aug. 4th (dinner) through Sun. Aug. 6th

Apply Here - wait list (and early announcement of fall offering)

No Cost to our Cancer Community as sponsored by Wind River
Picture
0 Comments

24 Hours of Wind River ... and Booty!

6/13/2023

0 Comments

 
LOOKING FOR YOU!   
  • Join our Walk or Cycling team, and fundraise for a great cause (that also supports Wind River!  (TEAM Wind River Sign-Up)
  • Come to the Survivor Breakfast filled with heartfelt connections (Sat. morning July 29th)
  • We also need a few good volunteers on Friday afternoon/early evening or Saturday for our Wind River ROck Garden Table!  (email cheryl@windriverservices.org)

Friday July 28-29.  7pm - 7pm
Charlotte, NC Queens University Campus


This annual event is filled with passionate people supporting the cancer community.   If you have never been, it is a blast!!!  24 Foundation is a major supporter of Wind River each year --- your participation is MOST helpful!
Picture
0 Comments

3 Opportunities to Visit Wind River this Week!

4/10/2023

0 Comments

 
Picture
Spring is here ... where are you?!

Trees and blooming!  Come wander the trails to the sound of the creek.  Find your happy place with us this week.  Can't make one of these dates, use the Wellness Wednesday link below and we will reach out to find a better time to enjoy with you!


One Day Survivor Retreat at Wind River

Sunday, April 16th
Details and Application: SIGN UP HERE
For NC/SC men and women in treatments or recently completed (within 6 months)

Family Wellness Day at Wind River - SIGN UP HERE
Saturday, April 15th
10AM - 4PM

Wellness Wednesdays at Wind River
April 12, May 3, or pick another day!
Wind River (Tryon, NC)
Sign Up here


Spring Tom Sawyer Volunteer Day - MAKE-UP DAY email Shannon
Wednesday April 12th
10AM - 2PM
At Wind River, NC
0 Comments

Tom Sawyer Volunteer Day

4/3/2023

0 Comments

 
Picture
Tom Sawyer Day is coming soon! 

Always a great day of fun, sweat and laughs!  Spring weeding, clearing fallen debris, moving mulch, burn pile, and more to help the property SPARKLE for our spring activities.

We ask for 3 hours of outside property work and then we celebrate with lunch by the creek. Please register in advance.  

Date: Saturday April 8th 
Location: Tryon, NC 28782– roughly 90 minutes from Charlotte, NC
Time: 10AM - 1PM property work, 1PM-2PM Lunch, (lunch provided). You are welcome to relax by the creek after lunch too!

email Shannon

​

Closer to the date we will email you a reminder, directions, what to bring, etc.   And all dates are weather dependent
0 Comments

​Family Wellness Day at Wind River (Spring 2023)

3/20/2023

0 Comments

 
Picture

Saturday, April 15th 
10AM - 4PM

Forest bathing broadly means taking in, in all of one’s senses, the forest atmosphere. Not simply a walk in the woods, it is the practice of being immersed in the sights, sounds and smells of the forest.  And enjoy the blooming flowers and trees!!!

On April 15th, we invite you and your family to spend time in nature, by the Wind River waterfall. Open to Cancer Survivors, Caregivers and Healthcare Professionals, and their families, who need some unstructured time in nature.  

Get away from it all for a couple of hours or bring a lunch and stay for the whole day and carve out some personal and or family time!

Sign Up Here
0 Comments

​One-Day Survivor Retreat at Wind River

3/8/2023

0 Comments

 
Sunday April 16th, 10AM - 3:00PM 
Details and Application Click Here

For NC/SC men and women in active treatments or recently completed (within 6 months).  This one-day retreat experience is a wonderful way to reset, recharge and deeply connect with other survivors while soaking in the beauty of nature. Our Wind River Cancer Wellness Retreats emphasize creativity and healing.  

​Everything will be playful, fun and healing aimed at balancing and brightening your body’s energy centers. Be prepared to laugh, learn, and share in a slice of North Carolina paradise!

More details and application: Here

Picture
0 Comments

Wellness Wednesdays

3/7/2023

0 Comments

 
Picture

​
Register by clicking  
HERE

At Wind River we are BIG believers in the power of laughter and connection to heal, but we also understand the power of slowing down and taking personal time to quiet the mind. Taking time for stillness is a form of self care that is often overlooked but is a powerful de-stresser - especially when you do it in a beautiful place in natural setting!

Returning this Spring, Wind River is opening the grounds of our Wellness Center every Wednesday from 10am-4pm most Wednesday's in Spring 2023 for Survivors, Caregivers and Healthcare Professionals who need a break from the city and just need some quiet, re-centering time in nature.   

This is unstructured time for you to do what you feel serves you best.  Sit by the creek and listen to the birds, relax in a hammock, write in your journal, meditate, pray or take a walk on the trails and just let go for a while.  We may be on the property working on a project or you may not see us at all - no matter, this is your time and there are plenty of great spaces on the property for contemplation and meditation (or singing, drumming or art if that's your thing)!

Get away from it all for a couple of hours or bring a lunch and stay for the whole day and carve out some personal time to find a calmer, clearer, more peaceful state of mind.  

​
  • WHO - Survivors, Caregivers and Healthcare Professionals who need a "reset"
  • WHEN - Wednesdays 10am-4pm  (March 29th, April 12th, May 3rd or let us know a day that works better for you!)
  • HOW - Simple.  Just let us know you are coming at least the day before by signing up HERE.
  • HOW MUCH - Free


Again, register here

Please no smoking, alcohol, pets, or cell phone chats.  Also, if you have mobility concerns, we can talk directly as our home is on a sloped property with gravel paths and stairs.

Dave & Shannon (hosts / homeowners)
0 Comments

Monkey Mind

3/6/2023

0 Comments

 
Picture
Wind River Wellness Corner

Monkey Mind is when our mind is unfocused and jumping from thought to thought like a monkey jumping from tree to tree.  We all have it at times (especially in this fast paced world we live in), but the good news is that we can learn to control our monkey minds and regain our focus (which helps us feel less scattered and can help with anxiety). 

Practices like Yoga, Tai Chi, gardening, art, drumming and regular exercise routines are powerful ways to focus the mind in one place and keep it from "jumping around".  Taking the time to speak with a professional counselor, volunteering to take your mind off your own worries, using guided meditation tools and taking time for quiet contemplation can also help manage anxiety and control that monkey mind of yours!

Your mental health is so very, very important for your overall wellness, but nobody can do it for you.  So take a look at some of the many ideas in this newsletter and be willing to try something new. You may just find making a practice of some of these techniques can not only help focus your mind while you are doing them, but give you a safe haven to go to when things get a little unsettled in your life.
 
With love and gratitude,

The Wind River Team


0 Comments
<<Previous

    Author

    Wind River

    Archives

    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    February 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    March 2014

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Archived

THANK YOU to our many supporters and sponsors for making this possible!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Wind River Services is a501(c)3 not-for-profit affiliate organization.    Written Permission is Required for Re-Print or Electronically Post of any part of this website including but not limited to text, videos, and pictures.  
Copyright 2007 - 2023
Picture