Cancer Support Community to host Wine, Women & Shoes benefit May 26

Cancer Support Community (CSC) will host the Wine, Women & Shoes benefit event May 26 to help celebrate 25 years of hope throughout 2016. Money raised will help the organization fund its mission of ensuring “all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action and sustained by community.”
 
For Julie Wogenstahl, who began her work with CSC as a volunteer prior to transitioning into her current role as Development Associate, the organization’s work is helpful to those who like herself (she finished chemotherapy a year ago and is a cancer survivor) appreciate joy and a sense of belonging during an otherwise difficult time.
 
“CSC offers something for everyone — support groups, programs about topics such as clinical trials and spirituality, guided imagery, cooking programs, social events and so much more,” Wogenstahl says. “Everyone’s cancer journey is different … but Cancer Support Community is a place of happiness and joy, even through a cancer diagnosis.”
 
The community-building that occurs through involvement with CSC is particularly important to so many because it offers them someone not only to listen but who is familiar with what they’re going through because they’ve experienced it themselves.
 
Charlene Mecklenburg has been attending a CSC support group since 2013, and her group members have provided support, she says, “through all the ups and downs.”
 
“Our current group has become a close knit community of friends,” Mecklenburg says. “It is good to have friends who truly understand — when I’m in the group, I’m not ‘alone’ and not the ‘one with cancer.’ We laugh together and cry together. The support group has saved me.” 

Do Good: 

• Join the fun and support the Cancer Support Community by purchasing tickets to attend Wine, Women & Shoes 5:30-9 p.m. Thursday, May 26 at The Transept in Over-the-Rhine.

• Help CSC celebrate National Survivors' Day at its family-friendly Backyard Bash June 5.

• If you or your family is affected by cancer, learn more about CSC and the free programming it offers.