Cancer Connection Offers Variety of Winter, Spring Programs
NORTHAMPTON — Winter weather is not slowing down Cancer Connection’s array of programs and activities for people experiencing cancer. Here are some of the programs coming up in February, March, and April. For more information or to register, contact Kendell Sweeney-Thomas at outreach@cancer-connection.org.
• Whole-food, Plant-based Cooking, Feb. 28, March 21, and April 1, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Eating a whole-food, plant-based diet is one of the most fundamental and accessible ways of promoting good health and living well through cancer treatment and beyond. Paul Sustick of Paul & Elizabeth’s restaurant will help attendees explore making delicious and nurturing foods that focus on nutrition and incorporating healthful eating habits into daily life.
• Your Creativity Matters Art Workshop, March 7, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Each month, attendees will create their own art for expression and relaxation using a variety of art materials (watercolor, ink, pencil, collage, etc). In March, they will learn how to make a unique envelope art journal.
• Stronger Together: Team Training for the Western Mass. Mother’s Day 9-mile Walk/Run. Cancer Connection is teaming up with My Health Matters Fitness to support and train a Cancer Connection relay team to participate in the Mother’s Day Half Marathon 9-mile Walk/Run. The sessions start March 11 with an informational meeting from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., followed by training every Thursday from March 19 to May 7 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., culminating in the walk/run on May 10. All emotions and bodies are welcome.
• The Genetics of Cancer with Page Brody, March 16, 6-7:15 p.m. at Greenfield Public Library (open to the public, registration required). In this seminar led by local certified genetic counselor Page Brody, attendees will explore the basics of cancer genetics and why a well-gathered family history helps providers better understand if genetic testing may shed light on one’s hereditary cancer risk.
• Watercolor Collage with Kaia Zimmerman and Sara Siegel of Dabble Art, March 18, 6-7:30 p.m. Attendees will create a collage out of hand-painted watercolor paper, using handmade, non-toxic watercolors. Participants will learn watercolor painting techniques and collage techniques, and will leave with their finished creation.
• Question & Answer Talk with Dr. Ahmad Siddiqui, March 25, 5:30-7 p.m. (open to the public, registration required). In open and informative Q&A session, Dr. Ahmad Daniyal Siddiqui will answer questions about cancer care. This is an opportunity to hear directly from an oncologist about treatment options, managing side effects, communicating with one’s care team, and more.
• Sexuality After Cancer: Cultivating Connection Through Touch and Communication, a Two-part Experiential Workshop for Couples, April 8 and 15, 5:30-7:30 p.m. (in-person only). This two-part, small-group workshop is designed for couples who want to reconnect physically and emotionally after cancer has changed the landscape of their relationship. Facilitated by Linda Tumbarello and Ron Freshley, partners in both life and work, this series blends practical skills with emotional support, drawing from Tumbarello’s 40-plus years as a hands-on practitioner and psychotherapist, as well as their personal experience navigating prostate cancer as a couple, and Freshley’s experience as a psychotherapist and facilitator of a men’s group for more than 12 years.
• Papercut Workshop: Tree of Life with Artist Tamar Shadur, April 26, 10 a.m. to noon (in-person). Attendees will explore the art of papercutting, a beloved folk tradition found across many cultures. In this hands-on workshop, Shadur will introduce the basics of papercutting through the Tree of Life motif, a symbol of growth, connection, and renewal. Using simple tools and techniques, attendees will create their own papercut with space for personal expression. No prior art experience is needed, and participants will leave with at least one finished piece to take home.