Shining Light on Survivors: April Edition
Program Highlight: Cooking Beyond Cancer: A Flavorful Lifestyle
Cooking Beyond Cancer: A Flavorful Lifestyle goes beyond the traditional approach to cooking, focusing on the importance of nourishing the body with whole foods, while making the culinary journey easy and enjoyable. Survivors that participate in this program are gifted a cookbook binder that they will add recipes to each month, as a tool to continue living this healthy lifestyle long into survivorship.
There is no cost to survivors who participate in Cooking Beyond Cancer. This is fully funded by B the Light. If you are interested in supporting this program please visit our DONATE page on our website or email Laura, at laura@bthelightinfo.org, for more ways to support B the Light.
Let’s make a difference together.
Programs and Events
Shining Light
B the Light was able to gift THREE Shining Light donations in April.
While navigating a cancer journey, B the Light offers financial assistance to survivors residing in Minnesota. An eligible survivor recipient can receive a one-time donation of $500 to help with financial hardship during their breast cancer journey.
Hope Huddles
Thank you to Red Lobster (Mankato) and George’s Fine Steaks (New Ulm) for hosting our April Hope Huddles.
Hope Huddles provide a simple yet meaningful way for survivors to connect over a meal. This event is offered monthly in both New Ulm and Mankato to survivors at any stage in their journey. All Hope Huddles are informal and fun.
ReLight Retreats
April’s FLOURISH ReLight Retreat, at Menari Body Works, invited survivors to slow down, reconnect with themselves, and find the part of them that was lost during their breast cancer journey. To begin the morning survivors experienced a 45 minute healing sound bath, guided by Melissa with Gilded Hearts Coaching. We followed with a light charcuterie-style lunch provided by The Beast Food Boutique. We then moved into a profound three-hour interactive session, led by Kelly with Live Well with Kell. This retreat fostered personal growth and renewal. The morning was a testament to the journey of healing undertaken by all.
B the Light offers mini-retreats to connect survivors with resources for healing of the mind, body, and soul. These experiences offer support and create a safe place for these beautiful survivors to feel honored and lifted up.
Survival Fitness
Our spring session of Survival Fitness has offically concluded and we couldn’t be prouder! 13 survivors participated in the 4 week session at New Ulm Fitness. Survival Fitness isn't just about exercise; it's a holistic approach that combines empowering strength training with personalized health coaching, laying the foundation for lifelong healthy habits through survivorship.
Survival Fitness is a wellness initiative to offer support for breast cancer survivors, while also helping them to rebuild the strength lost during their journey. The program incorporates strength training and health coaching.
Cooking Beyond Cancer: A Flavorful Lifestyle
Our monthly cooking program kicked off in April. We welcomed 16 survivors to Cooking Beyond Cancer: A Flavorful Lifestyle. Cultivate Mankato graciously hosted our group and Inspire Health and Wellness walked the women through prepping and seasoning three meals. “I am inspired to enjoy cooking again. I love the healthy choices and look forward to more classes! I feel so blessed to be a part of this group!” and “Loved being able to make all the healthy food and knowing what is in it. Love the recipes that come with it as well.” were two comments made after our first class.
Cooking Beyond Cancer classes empower breast cancer patients and survivors by focusing on the importance of nourishing the body with whole foods. CBC makes the culinary experience easy and enjoyable.
We are thrilled to have had 64 Survivors participate in our programs in April, welcoming 7 ‘New to B the Light.’ Creating these connections is exactly what we are here for!
Our total programming costs for April 2024: $5,145.
Other Exciting News
Island Greetings!
This past October, during our Illuminate Hope Gala, Aunt B’s family, for whom the organization was named, surprised the crowd and gifted a Belize Hope Getaway trip to a survivor in attendance. B the Light Survivor Jen Ulman was blessed to receive this experience. In April, Jen and her husband enjoyed a beautiful and relaxing week at St. George’s Caye Resort.
“This trip was absolutely amazing! It was perfect in every way!” - Jen
Aunt B’s siblings: Julie, Steve, Jeff, Roger, and Louise.
Thank you!
We would like to thank the following B the Light supporters for their donations this month:
Lions Club of New Ulm
Church of St. Paul/Ladies Guild
New Ulm Boys Hockey
Sleepy Eye Pee Wee Hockey
L. Raschke (Memorial Gift for Cheryl Olson)
D. Block (Memorial Gift for Cheryl Olson)
Total Donations for March: $2,395
We would like to thank the following B the Light supporters for their ongoing fundraising efforts:
Todd’s 8-Hour Endurance Run
Todd is a cousin to a B the Light Surivior, Kate, and running in her honor. He will be running an 8-Hour Endurance Run on July 13th, in Indianapolis right outside of the historic Hinkle Fieldhouse on Buttler University’s Campus. Todd’s goal is to raise $5,000 for B the Light! He has already raised $1,000+ You are invited to donate to Todd’s run to ‘inspire connection and HOPE for breast cancer survivors.’
St. Mary’s High School MSH Honors Society
St. Mary’s High School students, Josie Helget and Jasmine Peterman, got creative when it came to their project for their Honors Society class. The young women decided on cinnamon rolls! They baked and sold cinnamon rolls to raise money for two area nonprofits. B the Light was one of those that were chosen and received $522.94. When asked what made you choose B the Light both Josie and Jasmine said they knew other women who have participated in B the Light’s programs. Thank you so much, ladies! You are making a difference in the lives of those living in your community!
Josie Helget, Executive Director Laura Doyen, and Jasmine Petermann
A cancer diagnosis can be financially devastating for families, B the Light covers 100% of the cost for each of our survivors to participate in our programs. Community support is critical to the livelihood of our organization. Every dollar counts...thank you! Thank you for shining your light!
Save the Date
June 28th: Mankato Habaneros Softball
The Habaneros organization has selected B the Light as the inaugural recipient at their cancer awareness night.
SURVIVORS
Please click here: SURVIVOR PROGRAMS & EVENTS to register for the events you’d like to attend.
Please click here: B THE LIGHT SURVIVORS to join the private Facebook group.
FAMILY and FRIENDS
Please click here: CAREGIVERS, FAMILY, and FRIENDS to join the Facebook group we have created for you!