Since 2013, AFC has
Press Kit
Our Mission: To heal the emotional scars of cancer through volunteerism, meaningful travel, and programs designed to reframe adversity and redefine what’s possible – all while making a positive impact on communities at home and around the world.
COMPANY PROFILE
There are currently 16.9 million cancer survivors in the United States and this number is expected to grow to 23.3 million by 2026[1]. When factoring in professional and family caregivers, the number of people impacted by cancer multiplies exponentially. Some research figures estimate that more than 35% of people impacted by cancer experience significant emotional distress and of those, more than 50% do not seek traditional support[2].
A Fresh Chapter’s revolutionary approach transforms the adversity of cancer into an opportunity for people to live healthier, more meaningful lives. By blending volunteerism, perspective-shifting experiences, and programs designed to reframe adversity and redefine what’s possible, our programs not only heal the emotional scars of cancer for patients and caregivers, but also ripple out to create a positive impact on families, communities, and the projects we serve around the world.
- Cancer Treatment & Survivorship Facts & Figures 2019-2021
- ACS Cancer Treatment and Survivorship 2014-2015
How is A Fresh Chapter different?
As part of A Fresh Chapter’s commitment to a deep and lasting positive impact on our participants, we have implemented a performance management methodology to continually assess program results. Through this methodology, we monitor a series of indicators with pre-program, on-site, and post-program surveys to assess the participant’s emotional state, cognitive behaviors, and the ability to make meaning out of adverse circumstances.
AFC is filling a niche in the oncology community that is not otherwise being served. By using volunteering as a catalyst for post-traumatic growth, we not only serve cancer patients, caregivers, and survivors but also create a ripple impact of good by empowering our participants to give of their time to volunteer projects that support others in need.
A Fresh Chapter’s performance management methodology was designed by Michelle DiSabato of Community Impact Consultants Inc., an expert in program impact management, with input from Dr. Arash Asher, Director of Cancer Survivorship & Rehabilitation at the Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
PERU ODYSSEY: IMPACT SPOTLIGHT
The Peru Odyssey program is a partnership between A Fresh Chapter and Eli Lilly and Company’s Connecting Hearts Abroad Program. Half of the program’s participants are Lilly employees who have experienced cancer first-hand and half are selected from the broader A Fresh Chapter community. Below is a snapshot of the impact of our 2017 Peru Odyssey Program.
OUR FOunder’s STORY
The Emotional Aftermath of Cancer
A breast cancer diagnosis at age 30 changed Terri Wingham forever, transporting her from corporate life to a foreign world of chemotherapy and surgeries. Emotionally and physically drained after her last surgery, but not interested in the typical support group environment, she signed up for a volunteer trip to Africa. Six weeks of volunteering at an underfunded daycare in the Townships of Cape Town helped Terri to see that struggle is universal – and helped her transition from feeling victimized by cancer to discovering renewed purpose in her life.
Reinvention is Possible
Terri returned home inspired to find a way to help others impacted by cancer heal through volunteering. Armed with a Business Degree, majoring in Entrepreneurship, from Royal Roads University and her experiences gained from five years of building a network as a professional headhunter, Terri saw an opportunity to turn her newfound passion into an organization that facilitates life-changing volunteer and leadership experiences to empower people impacted by cancer to reframe adversity and discover new perspectives, possibilities, and purpose in their lives.
Terri is a committed global health advocate and cancer support innovator who speaks frequently about topics related to using adversity as a catalyst for growth. She has contributed to the Huffington Post, the Philadelphia Inquirer and a range of other publications. Previous speaking engagements include a corporate TedX Talk at AbbVie Inc., an Ignite talk at Stanford’s MedicineX conference, the keynote for Young Adult Cancer Canada (YACC) National Conference, Lungevity Survivorship Conference as well as cancer-related survivor events and fundraising galas.
oUR PROGRAMS
Odyssey
Volunteering & Personal Growth
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Through life-changing volunteer travel experiences and activities designed to reframe adversity, foster interpersonal connections, and promote personal growth and development, AFC offers a unique opportunity for its participants to see that struggle is universal and connect to a supportive community to help them navigate whatever the future may hold. The Volunteering & Personal Growth “Odyssey” embeds a one or two week volunteer travel experience into a broader six-month program of support and education.
U.S., Peru, India, Costa Rica, and South Africa
Leadership
Perspective-Shifting Leadership
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In 2017, AFC expanded to serve the advocacy community with the creation of the ReFresh Experience for Cancer Advocates and Leaders – the first Professional Development and Leadership program of its kind to address burnout and compassion fatigue within the advocacy community – while fostering collaboration across the industry. Now, this program will be expanded to a 1-year perspective-shifting leadership program for a carefully selected cohort of industry partners & patient leaders. This program will include 3 on-site immersion experiences, online content, and mentorship/skilled volunteer opportunities.
Online Expansion
Odyssey 2.0
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Expansion of AFC’s volunteer and personal growth program to serve people from across the U.S. and around the world. Our vision is to scale this transformational program to help one million people heal the emotional scars of cancer while creating a ripple of good in the world.
AFC For Developing Countries
Global Cross-Border Emerging Leaders Program
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To ensure our programming serves not only North Americans, but also cancer survivors, patients, and caregivers in low and middle-income countries around the world, AFC will pilot its Global Cross-Borders Emerging Leaders Program & Toolkit Initiative in Kenya in 2019. This program will bring together U.S. advocates with Kenyans impacted by cancer to experience a joint program and collaborate on the development of a customized toolkit to offer AFC’s tools and resources to Kenyans. This model can then be replicated in other countries.
Pilot: Kenya 2019
Press HIGHLIGHTS
A Fresh Chapter is grateful to the many news outlets and blogs who have helped us to share our story and our participants’ stories in the U.S. and Canada. If you are a member of the press interested in interviewing founder and CEO Terri Wingham or doing a story on A Fresh Chapter, please email us at info@afreshchapter.com. To see all press coverage, please click here.
An Unusual Therapy for Cancer Survivors that Aims to Heal the Mind and Spirit
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St. Louis Post Dispatch, By Aisha Sultan
An Unusual Therapy for Cancer Survivors that Aims to Heal the Mind and Spirit
A Fresh Chapter Helps Cancer Survivors Heal
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ABC News 7
A Fresh Chapter Helps Cancer Survivors Heal, By Denise Dador
India Journey a Fresh Start for Canadian Cancer Survivors
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CTV National News
India Journey a Fresh Start for Canadian Cancer Survivors, By CTV News Staff
Cancer Survivor Uses Technology to Launch an International Dream
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Huffington Post Impact
Cancer Survivor Uses Technology to Launch an International Dream, By Terri Wingham, Guest Contributor
Family Ties - an interview with Terri Wingham
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LIVES Affected By Cancer Magazine
Family Ties – an interview with Terri Wingham
Searching for Hope and Adventure in India
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AARP – Life Reimagined
Searching for Hope and Adventure in India, By Ken Budd
Interview with Terri Wingham
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Voice America
Good Grief with Cheryl Jones, Interview with Terri Wingham
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Being able to share my feelings, get out of my comfort zone, and make new amazing friends has helped me now that I am back home. I feel less anxious, don’t wake up depressed and have found a new meaning to life. — Eliel, Father of 5, Testicular Cancer Survivor, 2016 India Alum |
| A Fresh Chapter is providing an invaluable service to patients with cancer by supporting the cancer healing process through service and travel and by allowing individuals to re-examine their lives from an empowering perspective. There is no medication that can offer this growth. — Dr. Arash Asher, Director of Survivorship & Rehabilitation, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center |
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| Lilly’s partnership with A Fresh Chapter has helped strengthen our global employee volunteer program and enriched the lives of Lilly volunteers who embark on this unique experience with fellow cancer survivors. — Kathy Hudson, Program Manager for Connecting Hearts Abroad, Eli Lilly & Company |
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Burnout - especially as a cancer advocate and nonprofit leader - needs to be acknowledged because only in doing so can we keep going. By talking about it, not as a sign of failure but as a sign of failure but as an opportunity for growth, we can find (and offer) support and together create a new path forward. Thank you for the much-needed, liberating, exhausting, life-changing experience. I will forever be grateful. — Samantha Watson, CEO of the SamFund, Attended the ReFresh Leadership Program |
