Programs
We offer many wonderful programs, including opportunities for Cancer Connection participants to enjoy programs through All Out Adventures. In addition to our regular on-going educational and creative programs like Feldenkrais (Make Friends With Your Body), Knitting, Rest to Heal, Qigong Yoga, Creative Writing, Mindfulness, we are offering workshops on cooking for nutrition, art, gardening and much more. More information can be found below.
Like all our services, Cancer Connection offers programs free of charge for people living with a cancer diagnosis and their caregivers.
Confidentiality
All of the confidentiality norms and expectations of the standard Cancer Connection Confidentiality Agreement for participants and facilitators remains in effect for telephone, online, or in person activities. We ask all participants to keep confidential the identity of others they meet in group activities, and not to disclose any personal information that is shared in a support group or program to anyone outside of that meeting. We can talk about ideas outside of the group, but not about people.
Registration
Registration requirements vary by program. Please see below for details on each of our programs and information on how to join them.
Like all our services, Cancer Connection offers programs free of charge for people living with a cancer diagnosis, their families, and caregivers.
See our One-Time Workshops & Seasonal section or our On-Going Weekly Program section below for program descriptions, or visit the calendar to see the complete schedule.
One-Time Workshops & Seasonal Programs
Time to Heal: Coming Home To Yourself and Your Body After Cancer
Time to Heal: Coming Home To Yourself and Your Body After Cancer with Linda Tumbarello, LMHC
Three class series, in person only: Tuesday 15th & 29, 5:30 — 7 pm
A cancer diagnosis often arrives unexpectedly—sometimes from a routine screening, without any warning signs. The urgency to begin treatment can leave little time to process the shock, grief, and fear. You may have had to put your emotions, your needs, and much of your life on hold—pushing through treatment, no matter how difficult.
When treatment ends, the impact lingers. You may feel physically depleted, emotionally raw, or disconnected from the body that carried you through it all. Healing takes time—time to feel safe, grounded, and whole again. This three-session workshop series offers a gentle, supportive space to begin that process.
Rest and relax into your body
Begin to release tension and fear
Honor your emotions in the company of others who understand
Discover practices that nurture physical and emotional well-being
Reclaim a sense of home in yourself
Whether you are weeks or months past treatment, this series is an opportunity to begin moving forward—not just with your mind, but with your whole self. All are welcome, regardless of physical ability or movement experience
This in-person only workshop will be held at Cancer Connection Center. It is free of charge, but registration is required by calling 413-586-1642 ext. 104
Linda Tumbarello, LHMC
Linda is a highly experienced, Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Certified Body-Mind Centering Practitioner and Teacher. She leads workshops and has a private practice in Northampton where she specializes in healing from physical and emotional issues and trauma.
Queer Cancer Community Discussion
Queer Cancer Community Discussion with Artist E Tubergen (they/them) and Writer Ayden LeRoux (she/her)
Thursday, April 17th, 5:30 to 7 pm
Queer communities have long been at the forefront of reimagining networks of care and support and face a vastly different set of issues when it comes to forms of treatment, particularly in cancers tied to reproductive and endocrine systems. Join us for a discussion about the intersection of cancer, caretaking, gender and sexuality.
Artist E Tubergen (they/them) and Writer Ayden LeRoux (she/her) are partners living in rural Western Massachusetts. In 2022, E Tubergen was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 36. Ayden LeRoux is a BRCA1 carrier and had a preventative mastectomy in 2023. For the last year, they have been conceptualizing a project called Queer Cancer Archive that documents the experience of AFAB individuals and womxn affected by cancer. They live together in a converted mechanics garage with their cats.
Limited to 12 participants.
The program is free of charge. Call Cancer Connection for more information: 413-586-1642 ext 104
Whole food, plant-based Cooking
Whole food, plant-based Cooking with Paul Sustick
Saturday workshops, 10 am to 1 pm.
Register for one of these workshops:
April 19, May 17, June 14
Eating a whole foods, plant-based diet is one of the most fundamental and accessible ways of promoting good health and living well through cancer treatment and beyond.
Come join Paul Sustick of Paul & Elizabeth’s restaurant, as we explore making delicious and nurturing foods that focus on nutrition and incorporating healthful eating habits into daily life.
These workshops will provide instructions on how to transform fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains into delicious healthy meals, empowering you to become a more skilled, confident home cook. Each workshop will include cooking demonstrations and hands-on work as well as practical cooking skills, tips and knife skills.
Bring an apron, cutting board and knife and let’s have some fun while making nourishing, supportive food!
* Priority will be given to participants that have not attended a cooking workshop before
This program is open to anyone with a cancer diagnosis or is a primary caregiver and is free of charge. Registration is required. Priority for each workshop will be given to people who have not attended a cooking workshop before, but previous participants can join if space is available.
The program is free of charge, but registration is required. Please call Cancer Connection at 413-586-1642 to register.
Befriending Our Dreams: An invitation to a journey inward
Befriending Our Dreams with Ramsay Raymond, MA, MHC
Saturday, April 26 & May 17, 10am-1pm
In these 3-hour workshops, we'll explore how dreams can be a powerful resource for healing and self-discovery, especially during the challenges of living with cancer.
In these sessions we will have an opportunity to:
Share key dreams and images that you’ve gathered
Introduce questions and seed intentions into the unconscious
Practice dialogue with dream elements
Further develop skills and appreciation for dreamwork
Support each participant's unique journey
By befriending our dreams, we open ourselves to experiences and insights that can help resolve, balance, integrate, and inspire our healing journeys. Join us to discover how winter can become a rich season for exploring your dreams and sharing them with others.
This program is open to anyone with a cancer diagnosis or is a primary caregiver and is free of charge. No prior dream work experience necessary.
Registration is required. Call Cancer Connection to register: 413-586-1642 x104.
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Ramsay Raymond is a seasoned psychotherapist and educator specializing in dreamwork with over four decades of experience in holistic psychology and personal growth. Although semi-retired, Ramsay continues to share her wealth of experience in dream exploration and its healing potential.
Ramsay's approach is grounded in the spiritual psychology, Psychosynthesis, Gestalt, Native American, and Jungian perspectives, as well as body work, expressive arts, and energy healing. She founded The Dreamwheel in 1994 in Concord, MA to encourage dreamwork as a resource for psychological development, spiritual life, and creative endeavor. here
Art Workshop: Over and Under- Paper Weavings
Over and Under: Paper Weavings Designs with Patricia Hayes
Saturday, April 26th, Visual Arts Center, Springfield College
9:30 am to 3:30 pm
In this session we will use decorative and colored papers as well as magazine or Xeroxed images to design our own unique expressions. Limited to 10 participants.
The program is free of charge. Call Cancer Connection for more information: 413-586-1642
Generously funded by Rays of Hope, this workshop is open to all people who have, or have had, a breast cancer diagnosis
Estate and Incapacity Planning - An Overview
Estate and Incapacity Planning - An Overview with Hosea Baskin
Tuesday, May 6th, 5:30-6:30pm. In person
This presentation will cover the basics of estate and incapacity planning. First, we will discuss Health Care Proxies and Powers of Attorney, the two key documents for planning for incapacity. We will talk about what each one is for, and how it is used; we will also touch on the difference between a Health Care Proxy and a MOLST.
Then, we will delve into Wills and Trusts, the documents most commonly used for estate planning. We will discuss what is involved in making an estate plan; we will also talk about the probate process and how the administration of an estate works.
Please note that we will not be covering Medicare/Medicaid/MassHealth planning in this presentation.
This program is open to anyone with a cancer diagnosis or is a caregiver and is free of charge. Registration is required. Call Cancer Connection to register: 413-586-1642 x104
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Hosea Baskin is a Trust attorney and lawyer in Northampton, MA.
Art Workshop: On a Roll- Creating Paper Beads
On a Roll- Creating Paper Beads with Patricia Hayes
Saturday, May 10th, Visual Arts Center, Springfield College
9:30 am to 3:30 pm
In this one day workshop we will transform decorative paper into one-of-a-kind paper beads to create a stunning necklace or earrings. Limited to 10 participants.
The program is free of charge. Call Cancer Connection for more information: 413-586-1642
Generously funded by Rays of Hope, this workshop is open to all people who have, or have had, a breast cancer diagnosis
Mirrors: Equine Assisted Mindfulness Workshop
Mirrors Equine Assisted Mindfulness Workshop with Colleen Campbell and Cris Carl
Register for one of these Saturday, 10am- 11:30am, workshops:
• May 10th & May 31
• June 14 & June 28
• July 12 & July 26
• August 9 & August 23
Spend time at the Heroes, Horses & Hounds farm in Sunderland learning from and connecting with one of the wisest, most patient and forgiving teachers around, Horses. This workshop focuses on finding peace with your body, connection with yourself and others, sharing and processing lessons learned while going through treatments and finding not only joy but simple fun. Rediscovering play as a way of healing and building resilience. The workshop will consist of mindfulness and journaling exercises, hands on time with the horses and group sharing time. These workshops often help bring clarity and a shift in thinking. Helping people regain a part of themselves that may have been lost along their journey through cancer.
Mirrors takes place outdoors on a farm, so appropriate clothing and footwear will be required. Program details will be provided upon registration. Space is limited. Priority will be given to those that have not attended an Equine workshop before.
Call Cancer Connection on 413-586-1642 to register.
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Colleen Campbell is a certified trainer with the IAABC (international association of animal behavior consultants) and a graduate of UMASS Amherst with an Equine studies degree. At two years old she began asking for a horse. Needless to say Colleen was born with her passion of working with animals and has spent her life following that dream.
Mirrors and Paws for Joy equine and canine assisted therapy and service dog training programs have been developed from years of observations of and working with human and animal teams.
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Cris Carl, LADC1, is a licensed therapist who specializes in trauma, addiction and grief. She has been studying the brain and the effects of trauma and how the brain heals from trauma for over 25 years. Cris has a wonderful way of sitting with people and allowing them to open up in their own time. Allowing people the space they need to feel comfortable sharing whatever they want to share.
Cris loves the animals and has experienced the healing power of horses in the Mirrors program herself, originally starting as a student of the program in 2019. Then lending her gifts to help transform Mirrors into what it is today.
Mindful Movement in Nature
Mindful Movement in Nature with Lynne Smith
Join our Mindful Movement in Nature summer program where you can enjoy a gentle mind/body practice along with the beauty of the trees, water and sun! Join Lynne at Amethyst Brook parking lot on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of the month The session includes a 10-minute walk to a shaded labyrinth by beautiful sunlit streams and water. We will then practice Qigong which often mirrors movements in nature. Depending on interest from the group, we will change locations in June and July to add some variety to our experience outdoors. Standing practice only. Beginners welcome!
Time: 1pm to 2:10pm
Dates:
• May 2 & 16
• June 6 & 20
• July 18 (no class on July 4th)
• August 1 & August 15
• September 5 & September 19
Call Cancer Connection on 413-586-1642 to register. Once registered, you can attend just one or all of the Mindful Movement in Nature classes.
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For twenty years, Lynne has been integrating Qigong into all of her Yoga classes and has witnessed many testimonials of the powerful benefits of the practice when Yoga and Qigong are integrated together. She is a Senior Trainer with the Institute of Integral Qigong and T’ai Chi and produced a Qigong Infused Yoga DVD in 2018. She leads online teacher training programs training other instructors from around the world. She is passionate about and committed to Qigong as she continues to experience the powerful benefits and deep transformation that the practice offers.
Paradise City Dragon Boat Gentle Stretching Class & Info Session
Paradise City Dragon Boat Gentle Stretching & Info Class with members of the Dragon Boat Team
Tuesday, May 20th, 5:30-6:30pm. In person
Join us for a gentle stretching class with some of the Dragons! We’ll have info available to share about the team and how dragon boat paddling can be supportive to breast cancer patients and survivors! This class is intended for people who have been diagnosed with breast cancer, survived breast cancer and/or supported a friend or loved one with breast cancer. Members of Paradise City Dragon Boat team will be on hand to offer information and answer questions.
Paradise City Dragon Boat is a team of Western Massachusetts cancer survivors and supporters who have found not only the magic of the sport, but also the physical strength and abiding personal bonds that come from being part of this special community of paddlers.
We invite you to learn more about our team! In the meantime, check us out at: www.paradisedragons.org
Registration is required. Call Cancer Connection to register: 413-586-1642 x104
On-Going Weekly Programs
* Once registered, you are welcome to attend program classes on a drop-in basis, with no requirement for weekly attendance.
Feldenkrais: Make Friends With Your Body
Facilitated by Michelle Huber , using remote technology
Meets every Monday - 1:15pm to 2:15 pm
Cancer, cancer treatments, and being a caregiver can all create stress and discomfort in our physical selves. This class is a place to practice making friends with your body again using the wisdom of Feldenkrais. Through gentle movement in supported positions, we will shift ingrained patterns in the nervous system to help you breathe easier, sit taller, and have more capacity for doing what you love.
Currently meeting using remote technology. The program is free of charge, but registration is required. Please call Cancer Connection at 413-586-1642 to register.
Michelle Huber
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Michelle Huber is a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner and Circling Facilitator in Northampton Massachusetts. She loves leading groups and working with individuals. In 2024 she also began offering Book / Support groups on ‘How to Break Up with Your Phone.’
She is happiest when she is creating spaces to go deep, discover insight and be in the never-ending learning process of life with others. She intends to offer people a way to be in their bodies and relationships that is curious, non-judgmental and deeply self- connective. She cares deeply about practices to be more present, loving and truthful.
More information: www.MichelleHuber.me
Rest to Heal
Facilitated by Ilana Beigel, using remote technology
Meets every Monday - 11 am to 12 pm
Each Rest To Heal Program Session provides the participant with a guided meditation experience of Yoga Nidra allowing the body to fall into deep relaxation in a state between wakefulness and sleep. Yoga Nidra provides refreshing rest and healing for body and mind. Sleep and rest can be difficult for those with a diagnosis as well as for caregivers. Yoga Nidra can ease pain, relieve anxiety, reduce sleep issues, and bring you to deeper levels of calmness.
Currently meeting using remote technology. The program is free of charge, but registration is required. Please call Cancer Connection at 413-586-1642 to register.
Ilana Beigel
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Ilana has been devoted to the transformative power of holistic health for over 25 years. She not only believes in, but has experienced first hand, the benefits of integrative therapies including yoga, mindful movement, breathwork, visualization, meditation, massage, and yoga nidra.
She teaches throughout the Pioneer Valley and also at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in the Berkshires. As an Ayurvedic yoga teacher, Reiki practitioner, and yoga teacher trainer, she has dedicated her life and career to sharing modalities that heal body, mind, and soul. In her “other life”, she is a medical speech therapist working with adults rehabilitating from various illnesses including stroke, brain injury, dementia, and cancer. A mom of three, Ilana has been a resident of Amherst for nearly 20 years.
Her aim is to share practices that offer deep and profound healing. She is honored to support you in your wellness journey and is thrilled to offer the Rest to Heal program at Cancer Connection.
For more information, please go to ilanab.com
Mindfulness Program
Facilitated by Mariah Freemole, using remote technology
Meets every Thursday - 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm
This program is based on the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD. The quality and practice of mindfulness can open you to a greater sense of connection to your inner life and the life around you, as well as a calmness that will help you better cope with stress, pain, illness, and worry, during the meetings and at home between sessions.
Currently meeting using remote technology. The program is free of charge, but registration is required. Please call Cancer Connection at 413-586-1642 to register.
Mariah Freemole
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Mariah Freemole has been living and teaching mindfulness in the Pioneer Valley since August 2018. In addition to working with children, Mariah enjoys spending time in nature, reading, and traveling. She practices in the Shambhala Buddhist tradition and is a graduate of the Engaged Mindfulness Institute’s teacher certification program.
“My aspiration in teaching mindfulness is to serve as a facilitator for the ‘uncovering’ of your innate wisdom and insights into what will bring more ease into your life. In my teaching, I strive to offer a variety of different approaches to help you access your inherent peace. Whether you have been thinking about trying a mindfulness class, would like to ask questions about mindfulness, or simply share with others your existing practice, please know you can ‘drop in’ for any class at any time. I would be delighted to have you join us!”
Knitting
Facilitated by Wendy Sinton, MSW, hybrid options
Meets every Monday - 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Knitting can be meditative, relaxing, and a lot of fun. Come learn how to knit and purl at your own pace in a community of creative people. This class is appropriate for new or returning knitters. No experience necessary!
Currently offering both in person and remote meeting options. The program is free of charge, but registration is required. Please call Cancer Connection at 413-586-1642 to register.
Wendy Sinton, MSW
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Wendy Sinton has an MSW and practiced counseling therapy for over 20 years. She has been knitting for over 60 years and has been running the Cancer Connection knitting group for over 15 years. She finds knitting to be a relaxation and centering experience and very helpful in stressful times.
Qigong Yoga
Facilitated by Lynne Smith, hybrid options
Meets Tuesdays - 2:45 pm to 3:45 pm
Qigong Infused Yoga is a gentle mind/body practice that includes fun breathing exercises, calming movements from Qigong and Gentle Yoga, Balancing Postures, and Meditation. The infusion of Yoga and Qigong is both energizing and relaxing and offers the powerful benefits of BOTH within one practice- including supporting the nervous system affected by chronic illness, anxiety, stress and facilitating healing by inducing the relaxation response in the body.
Currently offering both in person and remote meeting options. The program is free of charge, but registration is required. Please call Cancer Connection at 413-586-1642 to register.
Lynne Smith
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For twenty years, Lynne has been integrating Qigong into all of her Yoga classes and has witnessed many testimonials of the powerful benefits of the practice when Yoga and Qigong are integrated together. She is a Senior Trainer with the Institute of Integral Qigong and T’ai Chi and produced a Qigong Infused Yoga DVD in 2018. She leads online teacher training programs training other instructors from around the world. She is passionate about and committed to Qigong as she continues to experience the powerful benefits and deep transformation that the practice offers.
Learn more about the practice and our instructor here.
Spirit of the Written Word
Facilitated by Pam Roberts, using remote technology
Meets every Tuesday - 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Open yourself to the transformational power of writing as a tool for healing and connecting with yourself and others. Pam provides “prompts” (perhaps a word, phrase, or object) as inspiration and starting point for writing. Writing within the safe, confidential confines of the group feels therapeutic, but we focus on our writing.
Currently meeting using remote technology. The program is free of charge, but registration is required. Please call Cancer Connection at 413-586-1642 to register.
Pam Roberts
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Pam Roberts is a writer, artist, and certified yoga teacher. A longtime breast cancer survivor, she leads Spirit of the Written Word writing workshops and yoga classes for people impacted by cancer and for the general population. She has been leading the Spirit of the Written Word writing workshop at Cancer Connection since 2003. She also facilitates 1 in 8: The Torso Project, a hands-on healing art experience for women affected by breast cancer consisting of workshops, exhibits and a book.
Cancer Connection participants can now register for All Out Adventures programs
All Out Adventures (AOA) is currently hosting Cancer Connection participants in any of its current programs. Fees for these programs will be paid by Cancer Connection.*
All Out Adventures programs include seasonal adaptive cycling, independent cycling, kayaking, and canoeing and snowshoeing, cross country skiing, sit cross country skiing, ice skating, sled skating in winter and for adults and seniors, including veterans, in various locations in Massachusetts.
*This initial AOA/Cancer Connection project is a pilot program to determine the level of interest in the community for this collaboration. If successful, future All Out Adventures programs will be planned exclusively for Cancer Connection participants.
Once you identify a program
Call All Out Adventures directly at 413-584-2052 or email them. Let them know you’re one of our participants and which program(s) you’d like to join. They can also address any questions about the programs or accessibility.
Call Cancer Connection at 413-586-1642 and let us know you signed up for an AOA program, so we will cover the cost, rather than you!
Learn more about our other services
Befrienders
Befrienders are trained staff and volunteers who listen and support both those who have been diagnosed and caregivers through challenging times.
Integrative Therapies
We offer therapies that treat the symptoms of cancer and offer stress relief and comfort to those living with a diagnoses and the effects of treatment
Support Groups
Support groups offer a place where we can laugh, cry, celebrate, and use humor to find relief in the universality of our experiences.