October 2024 News

Dear CanCare Family,

As October arrives, we join millions in recognizing Breast Cancer Awareness Month—a time to honor the strength and courage of those affected by breast cancer and renew our commitment to supporting them.

To our donors: Your support provides critical resources, emotional care, and hope to individuals and families facing breast cancer. You truly make a difference!

To our volunteers: Your compassion is the heart of our mission. Whether lending an ear, sharing your journey, or offering support, you bring comfort and connection to those who need it most.

To our clients: We are honored to walk with you. Your bravery inspires us, and we remain committed to providing the care and community you deserve.

Together, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month and beyond, we stand united in the fight against breast cancer. Thank you for being part of our CanCare family and for your continued dedication to supporting those who need it most.

With gratitude and hope,

Darcie Champagne Wells

President and CEO, CanCare Caregiver Volunteer

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This month, during breast cancer awareness month, we honor and remember those whose lives have been touched by breast cancer.

More than 1/3 of our CanCare volunteers are breast cancer survivors or caregivers for someone with breast cancer.

Our breast cancer survivors have experience with inflammatory breast cancer, metastatic breast cancer, triple negative breast cancer, triple positive breast cancer, in situ breast cancer, ductal, lobular, DCIS, LCIS, HER2+, estrogen positive and progesterone positive and metastatic breast cancer. We have volunteers who are survivors of all breast cancer stages.

If you need support please reach out. If you are giving support – thank you!

To learn more about breast cancer and the support available, visit our
CanCare Breast Cancer Support page.

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September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and we're proud to highlight one of our incredible volunteers, Nidia Aranjo, an Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia survivor and valued member of the CanCare family.

Nidia grew up in Texas with her Mexican heritage and overcame the challenge of learning English in a non-English-speaking household. She graduated from the University of Houston in May 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a minor in Health and now serves as a Certified Nursing Assistant.

Nidia’s cancer journey as a child sparked her interest in medicine. "I saw confusion on my mother’s face during appointments," she recalls. "It inspired me to understand the human body and educate patients." Cancer not only influenced her career path but also fueled her compassion for patients. "I wanted to be on the other side—treating the patient and understanding their care."

Nidia found CanCare while searching for volunteer opportunities on VolunteerHouston. "I wanted to help others going through similar experiences to what my family and I endured."

When she’s not supporting CanCare clients or working toward her career goals, Nidia enjoys singing, working out, and reading to unwind.

Thank you, Nidia, for your heart for serving others in their cancer journey!

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Testimonial from a Devoted Caregiver, Board Member and Donor

"The importance of 1:1 emotional support through the cancer journey is something people don't know the value of until they have experienced it for themselves."

-- Mark Holmes, Caregiver, Board Member, Donor

Mark and his wife, Brandie, were on the brink of welcoming their baby into the world when their lives were upended by devastating news—Brandie was diagnosed with cancer nine months into her pregnancy. As they navigated this unimaginable challenge, they found the greatest comfort from someone who had walked a similar path.

A coworker of Mark’s had faced a similar ordeal with his wife. Mark recalls how this friendship “became our version of CanCare, a lifeline during that time.” It was this experience that led him to CanCare after his wife’s cancer journey, 12 years ago, sparking a lasting bond with our organization.

Since then, Mark and Brandie have been dedicated advocates for CanCare. They chaired our 23rd Annual Survivorship Luncheon, and Mark co-chaired the 2019 CanCare Golf Classic. Mark also served on our Board of Directors for six years, and his commitment to our mission—to ensure no one faces cancer alone—remains unwavering.

We are profoundly grateful for Mark’s steadfast partnership and his commitment to providing a survivor by the side of every person facing cancer.

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Join us for a truly inspiring conversation with the incredible Dr. Joni Watson, a pioneer in oncology care with over 20 years of experience, who pours her heart and faith into everything she does.

Dr. Watson’s passion for helping cancer patients goes beyond medicine—she's devoted her life to creating a compassionate, patient-centered approach that treats not just the illness, but the whole person.

With her deep personal connection to cancer, having parents and two sisters as survivors, Dr. Watson brings a unique blend of empathy, strength, and faith to her work.

This episode will leave you feeling uplifted and hopeful, knowing that in the face of cancer, you are never alone. Listen via: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or anywhere you get your podcasts!