Peru Odyssey
Welcome to the beginning of your Peru Odyssey!
This site contains the information and details you need to prepare for the adventure of a lifetime. We’re thrilled to embark on this journey with you.
Meet the Team
Meet your A Fresh Chapter Team! For privacy reasons, all contact information (email addresses and phone numbers) is available via email. Please feel free to contact us with ANY questions you might have!
Terri Wingham
AFC CEO and Founder; Pre & Post Support
Terri Wingham is the founder and CEO of A Fresh Chapter. A breast cancer diagnosis at age 30 changed Terri forever, transporting her from corporate life to a foreign world of chemotherapy and surgeries. An international volunteer travel experience in South Africa helped Terri see that struggle is universal – and inspired her to provide individuals deeply impacted by cancer the opportunity to expand their focus beyond the disease and discover new purpose in their lives. Terri is a committed global health advocate and cancer support innovator who speaks frequently on topics relating to using adversity as a catalyst for growth. Terri holds a Bachelor of Commerce with a major in Entrepreneurship from Royal Roads University in Victoria, Canada.
Janet Ottersberg
AFC OperProgram Consultant and Facilitator
Janet Ottersberg is a co-facilitator for A Fresh Chapter. Janet is an OTR/L and has worked as an Occupational Therapist for more than 25 years. She is a certified lymphedema specialist, and started the Lymphedema treatment clinic at Parkview hospital in Pueblo, Colorado. She is a certified Daring Way Facilitator, incorporating the research on shame and vulnerability to assist her clients in finding their full joy. She is a Yoga Alliance registered yoga instructor and incorporates a mind, body, spirit practice in all aspects of her work. She received her certification in comprehensive evidence based coaching through Fielding Graduate University.
Stacy Stec
AFC Operations Manager – Logistics, Participant Support, and Program Mentor
Stacy is the Operations Manager for A Fresh Chapter, in addition to being an alum of the 2016 Peru Odyssey Tribe. She is the mother of two young daughters and is a breast cancer survivor. She was born and raised in Virginia and is now living in the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C. She is passionate about helping her community and loves to volunteer her time as a Girl Scout leader. Stacy is thrilled to be working in this role, which allows her to combine her experience working as a paralegal and participating in an international AFC program herself, as well as her commitment to helping others find the same peace after cancer that she found in Peru.
“The people of Villa El Salvador’s resilience and sense of pride in their community that I experienced while volunteering had a profound impact on me. My time in Peru allowed me to look back on my life from a fresh perspective and reset from where cancer had thrown me off. I realized that life is messy and that I should accept that I can’t always control it.”
Alumni Ambassadors
Marisol Martinez
Program Mentor
Marisol participated in the 2016 Peru Odyssey through her employer, Eli Lilly, and their Connecting Hearts Abroad Program. While at her volunteer placement in Lima at a facility supporting the families of children going through cancer treatment, she successfully organized a program to teach knitting. Marisol resides in Puerto Rico.
Michael Polkowitz 
Program Mentor
Michael participated in the 2016 Peru Odyssey through his employer, Eli Lilly and Company, and their Connecting Hearts Abroad Program. He volunteered at the Instituto Nacional De Enfermedades Neoplasicas, a cancer home in Lima. While there he served and helped prepare meals, provided hope, motivation and inspiration to cancer patients and their family members during their cancer journey while seeking treatment. Michael is passionate to help others through his work and community service, including leading a team to raise money for life-changing research on rare cancers. Michael lives and works in the New York Metropolitan Area.
“The Peru Odyssey has provided me a life changing experience to serve, volunteer and help those in need. My time in Peru has changed my life and re-enforced my calling to help cancer patients and their families.”
Chris Rito
Program Mentor
Chris is a member of the 2017 Peru Odyssey tribe, and a survivor of kidney cancer living in suburban Indianapolis with his wife and six kids (and two dogs). He participated through his employer, Eli Lilly, via the partnership between A Fresh Chapter and Lilly’s Connecting Hearts Abroad volunteering program. While in Peru he was blessed to prepare and serve meals to the families staying at Casa Hogar — an organization that provides lodging and meals to impoverished cancer patients and their families — and was especially touched and motivated by his interactions with the children there. He only reluctantly thought of himself as a cancer survivor, and was a “stereotypical guy” in that he initially resisted the idea of healing the emotional scars of cancer. Nonetheless, he benefited from A Fresh Chapter in ways he could not imagine, and now wants to give back and encourage others to feel this same benefit by being a program mentor.
Scott Hynes
Program Mentor
Scott participated in the 2017 Peru Odyssey through his employer, Eli Lilly and Company, and their Connecting Hearts Abroad (CHA) Program. He volunteered at the Mother Theresa Missionary Center, Home for the Dying and Destitute in Lima. While there, he served and helped wash clothes, put away laundry, prepare meals, feed residents, provided physical therapy, as well as provided hope, love, and compassion to the children and adult residents. Scott was born and raised on Iowa and is now living in a northern Indianapolis suburb. Scott is married and is the father to two beautiful young daughters (ages 4 and 7), who provide his motivation and inspiration. Scott is passionate about cancer research, physical fitness, and Michigan football.
“The enduring human spirit displayed by the people of Peru is so inspiring and powerful. It will have a profound impact on you.”
“Enjoy being uncomfortable and the subsequent growth you will undoubtedly undergo as a result of your amazing experience!”
Neha Kothari
Program Mentor
Neha is a member of the 2017 Peru Odyssey Tribe, an ambassador supporting the selection team and a program mentor. She is a Pittsburgh native and currently based in St. Pete, FL by way of Ann Arbor, Boston, NYC and Moshi, Tanzania. She is an avid traveler, a Zumba girl, a football fan (go Michigan and go Steelers!) and a breast cancer survivor. She enjoys long dinners with good friends, loves music, is motivated by the sun and is passionate about meditation. Neha has spent a good amount of volunteering abroad as well as in her local community and she is truly excited to connect with others starting their fresh chapter experience.
Anna Bedwell
Program Mentor
Anna participated in the 2018 Peru Odyssey through her employer, Eli Lilly and Company, and their Connecting Hearts Abroad (CHA) Program. She volunteered at Casa Hogar, an organization that provides lodging and meals to impoverished cancer patients and their families. While there, she prepared and served the afternoon meal, as well as provided hope, love, and compassion to the children and adult residents through crafts, reading and sharing stories. Anna was born and raised in Indiana, and currently lives on Indianapolis’ west side. Anna is married and has 2 beautiful daughters, and a house full of 4-legged kids as well. She loves science and research, supports and advocates for cancer patients to get the resources and knowledge needed to face various challenges that come with the “cancer package”. In her free time, Anna is an avid horseback rider and competes her horse, Sam, in lower level Dressage and Eventing.
Lori Feller
Program Mentor
Lori is a member of the 2018 Peru Odyssey tribe through her employer Eli Lilly and Company. She is a four time cancer survivor (melanoma and breast cancer). She lives in the Indianapolis area with her husband and triplet 19 year olds who are currently in college. Lori volunteered at Los Martincitos serving the elderly by preparing food, making crafts, painting and being inspired by their gratitude for all things. The Odyssey experience was transformational for Lori as it has changed the way she sees herself and how she will live her life going forward. She wants to encourage others as they begin their Odyssey journey.
Sarah Sauls
Program Mentor
Sarah is a member of the 2018 Peru Odyssey. She volunteered at a local preschool, working with the three year old kids, assisting the teachers with educational crafts, songs and helping serve meals. Sarah is married to her high school sweetheart, and they have a 14 year old dachshund named Skooter. She loves to travel with her husband and see new countries, experience new cultures and try new foods. Sarah is a breast cancer survivor, diagnosed at age 27, and found the experience with AFC truly life changing. She thanks the Peru Odyssey tribe for helping her find a new look on life and is excited for others to have this opportunity.