On my recent trip to Kenya, I met two women who were on an R&R break from their international development work in South Sudan. Every 6-12 weeks, they receive a week off to get away, recharge, and prepare to come back and focus on their important work. It got me thinking about why mandatory R&R is not a requirement in the oncology space. Although we do not operate in a war-zone, many of us in the oncology non profit space face fear and death – alongside the members of our communities – on a weekly, if not daily basis.

Last year, as I found myself grappling with feelings of overwhelm and burnout, I wanted to see how I could help myself heal, while helping others in the industry. So, in August 2017, we launched our first invitation-only ReFresh for Cancer Advocates Experience, a program for non-profit leaders and advocates, first in the country, who represented diverse organizations, types of cancer, and served on the front line of cancer care for patients and their families. This 5-day program fostered leadership skills, built connections, and increased future collaboration across the industry – all while equipping the participants with the tools and resources they need to reduce burnout and carry on their important work.

Today, we’re excited to share our ReFresh Impact Report, so you can see first hand why this program matters. A Fresh Chapter has implemented a performance management methodology to continually assess program results, which is also supported by the Burnout Self Test from Mind Tools. Results showed a reduction in burnout across every indicator.

ReFresh Impact Report to access more information on the ReFresh Impact Report.

In August 2018, our second ReFresh Experience will kick off in San Francisco. If you are an advocate or leader and would like to learn more, visit us here: ReFresh Experience for Cancer Advocates and Leaders. Space is limited and each applicant will have the opportunity to learn more during an upcoming interview. To experience ReFresh through the eyes of one of our alumni, check out these posts by Samantha Watson and Heidi Kitlas.