An entrance to a community that provides support to all those affected by cancer. WellSpring Alberta. (Marek Robinson, CMRU.ca)
Cancer support
WellSpring Alberta Cancer Support is a non-profit organization that aims to make living life with cancer easier and more enjoyable. The program director at WellSpring Alberta Niki Fehr, said, “All programs are for anybody living with any type of cancer and caregivers who can take the program on their own. We also have some program categories that are for specific groups of people, such as young adults, who have a very unique experience when they’re diagnosed with cancer.” WellSpring Alberta offers multiple programs such as:
- Exercise and movement
- Therapeutic Arts
- Symptom Management
- Financial Support
- Individual and Group Support
WellSpring’s inclusive approach ensures that everyone affected by cancer, whether the person with the disease, a caregiver, or a loved one, can all benefit from its programs.
Volunteers
WellSpring Alberta also uses volunteers to work with the people in the programs. Volunteers help welcome new people to the WellSpring Alberta organization and ensure that everyone can have an enjoyable experience when dealing with the hardship of cancer.
A WellSpring Alberta volunteer, Maureen Mcdonald, shared her favorite experiences:
“The one on one interaction. So oftentimes you’ll have a chance to meet a new member or talk to a new member or visit with someone who’s been here for a while. And those individual conversations where you get to know someone a little bit better, listen to what they’re asking about or what they have to say, and just have that personal connection. Those are fantastic.”
Volunteers’ positive experiences with members help make WellSpring Alberta feel like a positive community for all cancer-affected people. This inclusivity is a testament to WellSpring’s commitment to supporting all those whose lives have been touched by cancer.
Understanding cancer
Cancer is a complex disease where cells in your body grow uncontrollably, forming tumors or lumps. Cancer can affect any part of the body, and some cancers are treatable; others can spread and become life-threatening if not handled properly. The disease often is incurable, and many people who get diagnosed with cancer have to undergo chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The treatments are not always painful, but they are physically, mentally and emotionally challenging for the person going through it. According to the Canadian Cancer Society, 2 out of 5 Canadians are expected to be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime.
Personal reflection
This project impacted me by allowing me to approach an outside organization and have them trust me to make a piece of media for them to benefit. I hope my video and blog can bring more attention to the WellSpring organization because their work is impactful and meaningful to people going through some of the most challenging times. All the media I have created and filmed will be sent out to the WellSpring organization for them to use in the hopes that they can get more people to join their program. When working on this project, I started to learn more about how my project was not just for marks but for the school. It was for the organization’s benefit. After talking to everyone who was included in the video and seeing the excitement for the final product showed me how my small contribution in promoting their organization creates a big impact as it allows them to encourage more individuals who are struggling with cancer to join a program that makes living life with cancer a little easier shows that this project is not only just a project but a piece of media that can allow a good organization to be able to help out more people.
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