Newfoundland & Labrador's 5th Annual Breast Cancer Retreat

By Barbara Thompson, Editor/ABCN

Last Updated: Jun 10, 2004
Articles & News : Articles : Conferences & Workshop Reports

Email this article

Printer friendly page

Retreat Objectives.

The 5th Annual Breast Cancer Retreat for Women Living with Breast Cancer hopes to: provide a safe and non-judgmental forum for women to discuss their personal experiences, challenges, and victories with breast cancer; gather together women from around Newfoundland and Labrador; provide educational information on issues of diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, support, and self-care; provide opportunities to get to know each other and to network; and encourage participants to become more active in community building around the issue of breast cancer.

Donor Recognition Poster

Perhaps it was the image of buses traveling across Newfoundland, to collect breast cancer survivors for an annual retreat that first got my curiosity two years ago.  Whoever came up with the idea was brilliant.  Finding transportation can be a major barrier when it comes to attending events.  In Newfoundland, the bus trip is part of the adventure each year for more than 200 women who attend.  The Breast Cancer Retreat is held in different locations in Newfoundland each year, giving the participants an opportunity to explore their beautiful province. This year on Friday, May 28, 2004, I was there to witness these buses arriving.  I had arrived early in Port Aux Basques after taking the midnight crossing from North Sydney.  The Retreat doesn't begin until the buses arrive and when they do pull in - the excitement begins!

A Bus Arrives at St. Christopher's Hotel

The hotel stands on a hill that overlooks the scenic harbour with its rocky shoreline, its warning lights along the rocks and the multi-coloured buildings that stand ready for the onslaught of the tourist season.  The scenery of Port Aux Basques is unique and quite spectacular and I realized it was a privilege to be there.

Port Aux Basques Waterfront

Our Friendly Massage Therapist

Inside the hotel, the organizers set up a retreat for women that included massage, energy work, and Reiki to help the newly arrived make the transition from daily life to a weekend of pampering.  After an evening of excellent food and speeches, we awoke the next morning to a session of yoga taught by Judy Power and special guest Sudha Carolyn Lundeen from Mass., U.S.A.   This was not yoga for contortionists, but yoga sensitive to the physical and emotional needs of breast cancer patients/survivors.  Which was a good thing because we looked more like girls waking up from a sleepover than experienced yogis? 

Later in the morning, we learned more about each other through an introspective workshop. I must admit, it is very easy to get to know Newfoundland & Labrador women.  They are down-to-earth.  They love to hug, joke and laugh.  They are also not ashamed to shed tears and are sincere when they say, "May you have health.  May you have happiness."   Kindness is also abundant.  Norma Lush from Lewisport made and donated a wall hanging and a very special vest.  The vest was generously given to Sudha.  Another woman from the Gander area, Enid Noseworthy made candy flowers for every participant.  Others made quilts and donated them. Before the Retreat, we were asked to bring makeshift drums and colourful scarves.  After an afternoon panel discussion with medical professionals, Sudha took 220 women (no small feat!), plus the organizers, and had us making music. Afterwards we gracefully made art in the air with our bright scarves.

Conference Weaver, Sudha Carolyn Lundeen from Lenox, MA

No retreat would be a retreat without a candle procession.  I have been to my fair share, but I can honestly tell you that this one was different.  Something happened that evening.  I'll call it "sacred", because it was an "out of space, out of time" occurrence that took over everyone there.  No words can describe it. On Sunday, with the rain still blessing us, we planted a tree in front of St. Christopher's Hotel to remember this retreat and all those who lost their lives to this disease.  And to remember each other, we posed for a group photo in the hotel.

Planting the Tree of Remembrance

Of course I was asked why I came from Nova Scotia to Newfoundland for the retreat.  My first answer is that I, too, am a survivor.  I have also made friends over the phone talking to many wonderful people through my work with the Atlantic Breast Cancer Net.  I've wanted to meet them.  My third answer is that my maternal roots come from Newfoundland and I have long wanted to visit family there.

The Author with Cousin Cecil Baggs at the Lion's Den Tea & Craft Sale

On the second afternoon of the retreat I became an Honourary Newfoundlander when I was "screeched in" with guest Sudha Carolyn Lundeen and speaker, Dana Publicover of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation-Atlantic Chapter.  This all took place at a "Tea & Craft Sale" at the Lion's Den.  I swear not a drop of tea touched my lips!  I was far too busy looking through the lovely crafts, listening to live Newfoundland music and dancing.  For those of you who have never visited Newfoundland, it is a spectacular place with lively and friendly people.

I'm told the Retreat will be held in Burin next year.  This is on the opposite side of the province, therefore the women from Port Aux Basques will be making the bus trip there.  I'm sure there will be many of the same lovely faces at the Retreat in 2005.  My hope is that each year someone new will experience this wonderful Retreat and be welcomed in as I was.

A big thank you to all the organizers who worked so hard throughout the year to offer this wonderful Breast Cancer Retreat!  They are: Elaine Battiste, Chairperson, Donna Clarke, Secretary, Marilyn Kettle, Arthena Osmond, Mary Mushrow, Shirley Zillman and Co-ordinator, Shirley Thorne

Have comments about this article? We'd love to hear from you. Please email us at abcn@abcn.ca!