The Wind River Team

Shannon Carney

I believe cancer is truly a journey of the mind and heart.  I am forever changed because of the beautiful individuals who have passed through our door and become friends through our Wind River Cancer Wellness Retreats.  Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that the discipline and counseling skills of a lawyer would mix so perfectly with the compassion that comes from being a 19 year cancer survivor, and the empathy of being an ordained Minister.  Add on the role of professional negotiator and yoga therapist and you get a wonderful "life smoothie".

Shannon is a(n): All-Faith Minister, with Alliance of Divine Love, Certified Yoga Therapist with Yoga for the Heart and Restorative Yoga, for people dealing with life-threatening illness, and a retired lawyer. 

Dave Pschirer

Like Shannon I come with a wide array of talents from my Engineering and Computer background as well as interests in more creative endeavors like music, carpentry, landscape design and nature photography.

We are both outdoor enthusiasts and believe in the rejuvenating power of nature as well as the importance of "balance" - balance between what others need from you and what you need for yourself.

Most important, however, is our joint belief in service to others. I truly believe that the positive impact you have on another is returned to you ten fold. I have been positively impacted by so many wonderful people in my life - now it’s my turn to return the favor.

Cheryl Lecroy

... When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I immersed myself with diet and nutrition data from every popular book on the market.  I quickly became overwhelmed with conflicting information and I didn’t know whether to become vegan, vegetarian, raw or carnivore.  Each cancer specific diet recommendation had the science to back up the claim but each sent me in a different direction.  

I began working with Dr. Chasse Bailey Dorton, ( a doctor, a breast cancer survivor, and an integrative nutrition specialist)  to help me find my perfect direction as a “flexitarian”.

I now have a passion to help other survivors find their nutritional direction, feel better and get healthy with a simple, fun and easy to follow plan of eating a RAINBOW.  Life is more fun with color and so is the food that we eat!!  

Tai Chi Mike

Mike Gentile, known affectionately as Tai Chi Mike, has been a consistent face at Wind River since 2008 providing Tai Chi and Qi gong for our retreat participants.  Mike is the founder of Inner Power Fitness, and has over 30 years experience sharing the healing and health benefits of T'ai Chi Chuan, Qi Gong and Reiki. Mike lives in Charlotte, NC, just a 15 minute walk from his three grandsons.

"My mission is to help make the world a better place, by helping people become fit, healthy and healed. I welcome all to share my journey of Kindness to Ourselves and Others."

Shirley Ballantyne

Becca Odom
Shirley Ballantyne has been supporting Wind River with healing touch since 2010.  In addition to sessions during retreats and remotely throughout the year, Shirley provides Healing Touch I instruction to those looking to take this energy healing modality to the next level.

She is a registered nurse and graduate of Duke University with over 35 years of clinical experience including critical care, obstetrics, neonatology, and hospice.

Shirley is a certified Healing Touch Instructor, former healing touch practitioner at Mission Hospital in Asheville, and current hospice and palliative care nurse in Roanoke, VA .

​She believes in eating dessert first, always doing her best, taking nothing for granted, and speaking from her heart. 
Becca Odom is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Registered Yoga Teacher with over a decade of experience in the field. Becca specializes in combining Somatic Approaches with EMDR for trauma recovery. She primarily works with women who have experienced trauma, chronic stress and anxiety. Her passion is to empower others to heal themselves and she specializes in anxiety, trauma recovery and stress management. 

She is trained in EMDR, Community Resiliency Model (CRM), Mindful Schools, Trauma-Focused Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and has her 200-hour yoga teacher training certification. 

​You can also reach Becca at: Becca Odom Wellness

Teri Barron

Teri Barron is a North Carolina native. She lives in the country outside of Raleigh at Camp La TeDa, with her husband David and their two cats, Atti and Ace (short for attitude and action).

Being a part of the Wind River family is a wonderful privilege. Teri’s husband says, as a survivor, she is part of an exclusive club that no one voluntarily joins. Now that she is a member of “the club” she couldn’t be more grateful for Wind River and all the love and support she has received throughout her journey.

Out in nature is where you can usually find Teri. She enjoys gardening, kayaking, bicycling, camping, walking the trails around her house, listening to live music, traveling and spending time with her grandkids.

Above all, Teri considers herself a healing artist. Former massage therapist, yoga teacher, birthing doula, office manager and more.  Presently, she is working on her Reiki Master Level Certification. “I am passionate about helping others find their own healing- physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually”.

Lori Ives-Godwin

More to come.  Heartmath Certified Instructor