Every dream starts with a spark of an idea. From a conversation on a cold winter day in 2014 to a new twist on our programming, we’re thrilled to announce our first A Fresh Chapter Peru Odyssey Program – in partnership with Eli Lilly.

Eli Lilly and Company, an organization that provides hope and healing to people facing cancer through their medicines and insights, shares our belief in connecting hearts abroad and is the perfect partner to share A Fresh Chapter’s expansion into South America. From October 15 – 29, 2016, 20 people impacted by cancer will travel from around the world to join us in Lima, Peru.

Teams from A Fresh Chapter, Eli Lilly and Cross-Cultural Solutions meet in Lima, Peru

Like all A Fresh Chapter Odyssey Programs, we will bring together a diverse group of men and women impacted by cancer who are united in their desire to step beyond the label of “patient” or “caregiver” and into a brand new world of volunteering, cultural immersion, and personal development. A group of people ready to explore the emotional scars etched into their lives by cancer while spending time before, during, and after the trip reframing adversity and redefining their path forward.

While in Lima, our group will volunteer in community based projects – both inside and outside the oncology world – and experience the best of Peruvian culture. Then, to help remind us of the beauty that exists beyond cancer, we will share a once-in-a-lifetime weekend in Peru’s Sacred Valley where we will stand in awe in front of the majestic Inca ruins of Machu Picchu.

Thanks to our new partnership with Lilly, our tribe is growing. Through Lilly’s Connecting Hearts Abroad program – an inspiring corporate social responsibility program that offers 100 employees a year the chance to volunteer internationally – we have invited ten Lilly employees who have experienced cancer as a patient or caregiver to join us in Lima. We couldn’t think of a better organization to forge this partnership with than a company that believes, “Cancer doesn’t just affect the body. Complete care needs to reach the person inside.“

As a oncology company, Lilly wants to better understand the cancer journey, including the healing process, and also wants to help those in their tribe who have experienced cancer in deeply personal ways.

No matter where we live or what we do, cancer changes us. Whether as a patient or caregiver, we come face to face with mortality, reevaluate our priorities, and need a reminder that even after experiencing the pain of this disease, we can discover renewed purpose, new connections, and fresh joy in our lives. Now, with the expansion of our tribe, we can’t wait to offer more people impacted by cancer a chance to step out of their comfort zone(s) and expand their stories beyond the disease.

Make sure you’re signed up to be the first to learn about our new programs here: Be Part of the Fresh Chapter Alliance Foundation Tribe.