APRIL 2017 40 | FRONTDOORSMEDIA .COM {stories of perseverance} A SECOND ACT Cancer Survivors Join Forces to Facilitate Peer Support WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY’RE FACING Judy Pearson | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

APRIL 2017 FRONTDOORSMEDIA .COM | 41 In the wake of a life challenge, many people use the treasures they find among their wreckage to help others who might face the same challenge. Circle of Strength is just one of the wonderful organizations around the Valley that has done just that, along with shining a light on the beauty of the human spirit. This month I spoke with Allison Sanders, co-founder and board vice chair of Cancer Survivors Circle of Strength of AZ. What was the inspiration behind creating this organization, your 2nd Act? Lots of good happens when women get together over coffee! Three years ago, some survivor friends and I realized a huge need in the Valley: there were lots of cancer organizations doing lots of good things, but they all needed volunteers to pull off them off. When I went through cancer treatment, I was desperate for some kind of peer-to-peer support. I wanted to talk to someone who had traveled the same journey and could look me in the eyes and tell me it was all going to be okay. So we also developed a peer- to-peer support program, the Survivor Connections Network. What good deeds do you do? In other words, what is your mission? We do two things. First, we provide survivor volunteers to cancer organizations for their events such as fundraisers, walks and runs, galas. Secondly, our Survivor Connections Network allows our trained survivor peers to work directly with newly diagnosed patients. We understand what they’re facing - we’ve been in those trenches. We distribute directories, sorted by cancer type, and provide profiles of the survivor peers, including gender, cancer, types of treatment, and more. Patient navigators and social workers at Valley hospitals and treatment centers make the directories available to their new patients, who select a peer. The relationship begins with phone conversations, but could ultimately become as intimate as going to doctor appointments and treatments together. Each peer has been trained by Circle of Strength, in conjunction with social workers. These are people who have walked the same path as the newly diagnosed patient. They’ll provide resources and, most importantly, hope for brighter days. What population do you serve? Our work touches survivors of all cancers across Maricopa County. We estimate our army of volunteers – 28, with ample room for more – has served more than 5,000 people over the last few years. Where do you see your organization a year from now? I see our Survivor Connections Network serving and collaborating with treatment facilities all across the Valley. We’ll continue to support more local cancer organizations, as well as national ones with a local presence. Tell me about your inspiring experiences. We had incredible experiences at the Memory Tree of a local event. The tree leaves had messages on them, written either in memory of, or in honor of, someone special. As they hung their leaves on the tree, each person wanted to share the story of their loved one. And by the end of the story, it was as if we knew those people too. Watching this organization grow into what it has become has been so empowering to me personally. And I think our entire board feels that way, too. I feel as though it’s my legacy – something that can grow beyond me. This interview was condensed for brevity. A SECOND ACT CONTINUED