Boarding for Breast Cancer is pleased to host our 7th holistic outdoor retreat with our marketing and wellness manager, and former pro-snowboarder, Megan Pischke. The Chasing Sunshine Mountain Retreat, tailored specifically towards breast cancer patients and survivors, is led by Megan and her team of facilitators with expertise in yoga, nutritional medicine, life skills coaching, acupuncture/traditional Chinese Medicine, and more. It is a beautifully crafted retreat in Taos Ski Valley, NM, February 26 – March 1, 2017. Through an application process In January, B4BC chose 9 young survivors to attend this mountain retreat.
“I have always found healing in the mountains, in the snow and in the ocean, and that is the main reason these retreats exist. Now that I have been down the breast cancer path, I understand how truly important connecting with nature, and people on a similar journey is. These weekends are designed for women who want to learn something new about themselves, and at the same the time connect with new friends, who are often in similar positions as they are. Chasing Sunshine is about opening our hearts and our minds, and just plain having fun.” -Megan Pischke, B4BC Marketing and Wellness Manager, breast cancer survivor
This weekend’s retreat includes:
- A (3) Night Stay at The Blake Lodge Taos, a warm and cozy LEED certified slope side lodge.
- 8 Delicious whole foods, plant based, locally foraged seasonal meals with local holistic health chef Brigita Lacovara
- Spiritual insights, energy work, and private consultations and readings with life coach Linda Kennoy
- Two days of fresh mountain air and on hill coaching with Taos ski and snowboard instructors.
- Daily yoga and meditation sessions with Brigita Lacovara
- Eco inspired ideas and experiences
- Intro to Chinese Medicine + individual acupuncture sessions with Dr Kendra Starr, DTCM
B4BC’s Chasing Sunshine Project summer and winter retreats are held for breast cancer survivors to support them on their path to wellness. The retreat schedules center around snowboarding/skiing, surfing, yoga, nutrition, massage, rejuvenation and life-skills coaching for breast cancer survivors in need of a wellness experience, as studies correlate the benefits of complementary care and long-term survivorship.
Testimonials by women in this community reveal that the physical, emotional, and psychological scars left behind are often more severe than the fight itself. Unfortunately for most patients, the current model of survivorship care is dictated by their health care coverage and is limited solely to medical appointments and treatments. B4BC seeks to address these needs with a program that promotes healing, enhances long-term survivorship and allows for all it serves to thrive.
“Meeting other women through B4BC who are going through similar things or who already have gone through similar things was so relieving, so awesome, and so needed. I learned things that I didn’t know I needed to learn from these women. Cancer is the hardest thing I’ve ever been through, but this all would be much harder if I had waited to see a doctor or if I never felt the lump in my breast in the first place.” – Staci Roberts, diagnosed at age 26
Thank you so much to our partners for helping make this happen. Thank you to the North Face and Taos Ski Valley for allowing the creation of this retreat. Also thank you to Nixon, Von Zipper, Volcom, Mervin Manufacturing/Gnu Snowboards, Four Sigmatic, Bloom Farms and The Anita Salas Foundation for sponsoring our survivors and allowing them to attend.
In honor of their upcoming retreat B4BC is making their award winning film Chasing Sunshine, free to view for a limited time in the B4BC app. Chasing Sunshine documents the life of B4BC’s Megan Pischke through her breast cancer journey. The documentary gives a rare and real life look at cancer, the rigors of treatments and the beautiful side of survival. To learn more about the Chasing Sunshine Project please visit https://b4bc.org/the-chasing-sunshine-project/.
About B4BC
Boarding for Breast Cancer (B4BC) is a 501(c)3 non-profit foundation that advocates early detection and a healthy, active lifestyle as the best means for breast cancer prevention. Founded in 1996, B4BC empowers young people to make positive choices that promote lifelong wellness through outreach, prevention and support programs. To learn more, visit B4BC.org.
