As spring brings renewal and brighter days, I am filled with immense gratitude for you, our generous community of donors and supporters who make everything we do at Cancer Lifeline possible.

Thanks to your incredible support of our Fundraising with Friends campaign, we are thrilled to share that we exceeded our goal—raising over $330,000! Whether you hosted a fundraising page, made a donation, shared our mission with others, or did all of the above, thank you from the bottom of our hearts! Because of you, more than 8,000 individuals affected by cancer will receive free access to emotional support, classes, resources and a caring community. Your generosity truly changes lives.

Hot on the heels of Fundraising with Friends came GiveBig, Washington’s statewide 48-hour celebration of philanthropy. Once again, you showed up with extraordinary compassion and urgency, helping us raise critical funds that keep our programs free and accessible to anyone who needs them. We are humbled by your continued trust and support.

Pictured left to right: Gretchen Schodde, Harmony Hill Founder, Cancer Lifeline Staff & Board: Cheryl Sesnon, Deputy Director, Joseph Yurgevich, Executive Director, Rachelle Wills, Board of Directors President, Rebekah Stackhouse & Katherine Schmidt Board Directors, Kathy Porada, Board of Directors Vice President

This season of growth was beautifully reflected in our recent gathering at Sacred Waters Retreat Center, formerly Harmony Hill. It was a deeply meaningful event held in the place where so many have found peace, clarity, community and healing. We were honored to be joined by Gretchen Schodde, founder of Harmony Hill, whose vision and commitment to healing continue to inspire all of us. Cancer Lifeline board members, staff, and friends came together to tour the grounds and celebrate the ongoing integration of our two organizations.

As Harmony Hill and the Orion Center continue to integrate into Cancer Lifeline we are excited by the possibilities taking root. Our teams are working closely to grow our program offerings, streamline processes and combining Cancer Lifeline’s decades of experience in emotional support with Harmony Hill’s retreat-based healing and the Orion Center’s evidence-based integrative therapies. The result: deeper, more holistic support for those impacted by cancer.

We are filled with hope, and it’s because of you. Your support is planting the seeds for a future where no one faces cancer alone.

Spring reminds us of what’s possible; growth, renewal, and connection. Thank you for being such an important part of this journey. Your support helps us nurture hope and healing across every season.

With gratitude,



Joseph Yurgevich

Cancer Lifeline Executive Director

Glenda was first diagnosed with vulvar cancer on January 31, 2022, and again on August 23, 2024. She wishes someone had shared the warning signs with her earlier—both diagnoses came as a complete surprise.



Soon after her diagnosis, Glenda was grateful to discover Cancer Lifeline. Her mother had passed away from lymphoma on December 18, 1984, and it was her friend Georgie who first introduced her to the organization.

Georgie explained that because of her mother’s cancer journey, Glenda would be welcomed at Cancer Lifeline. She even invited her to a Reading with Rover event, where Glenda met one of the staff members, Basha. Not long after, Georgie passed away from cancer—news that came as a heartbreaking shock, as she hadn’t known Georgie was terminal. Glenda needed time to process the loss before returning to the community.



In 2018, Glenda joined the Cancer Lifeline writing class Writing for the Moment at the Norse Home. On her first day, she learned that Georgie had been a cherished member of that very class. The warmth and love the group still held for Georgie made Glenda feel an immediate connection.

“When I was later diagnosed with cancer, I knew that this class would be the place where I could speak my full truth without needing to hold anything back.”

Over the years, Glenda has taken many meaningful classes in writing, art, and nutrition. One of her favorite creative activities is submitting poems and prose to the Northwest Collage Society, where artists turn her words into visual collages for Cancer Lifeline. She has contributed to ten of these special collages so far and was deeply honored when one of her poems was featured on Cancer Lifeline’s Valentine’s Day card.

Today, Glenda is proud to be part of the Cancer Lifeline community and supports it in every way she can.

Interested in sharing your story? Email Nicole Taylor, Program Manager

Visit our website to register. 

Writing can change the way we think. It encourages us to listen to “what lies beyond consciousness,” as Oliver Sacks put it. When we write, we venture down the rickety steps into our innermost selves and see our words reflected back to us, from the page or screen, so that we can have yet another opportunity to see and shape our thoughts and feelings.

"I believe in writing, and I love sharing that belief to help others see and experience its power", instructor Gail shares. By offering writing prompts, I am able to lift people out of whatever reservations they have about the practice…with the full comfort that, if they choose to write about something other than the prompt, that’s A-okay! We write what we need to write.

The 3-part Survivorship writing series is designed around a topic or theme, but the intention is to make it flexible so that participants can write about whatever it is they want to write about. They may choose cancer as their focus, or they may write about something entirely different.

Each session involves discussion about the topic, a brief lesson about the craft of writing, and several writing prompts. We also set aside time for sharing, because sharing our experience of writing with others—whether it feels therapeutic, fun, or even difficult--can sometimes be just as beneficial as the act itself. And being there to offer support for one another is fundamental to our own well-being. Good things happen when people come together in a safe space, but sharing is always optional.

No writing experience is necessary! Participants just need to show up with a pen and paper or device for writing and, if possible, an open heart. Attend as many as you can.

Join us for any or all 3 sessions:

• June 24, 11:30am-1pm: When Fear Lurks in the Shadows
• July 1, 11:30am-1pm: When Uncertainty Creates Chaos
• July 8, 11:30am-1pm: When Discomfort Weighs us Down

Learn more & register today by clicking here.

When: August 19-21, 2025

A cancer diagnosis is often an isolating and frightening experience. Our 3-Day retreat is designed to help you onto the path of redefining your cancer experience from isolation and trauma to hope and healing.  Through small group sharing sessions and other activities such as gentle movement, meditation, poetry, and art, our compassionate faculty, staff, and volunteers provide tools, activities, and practical resources to help facilitate healing and well-being.



The only cost to you for the retreat is your accommodations and meals.

Room & Meals Per Person: $326 Per Person for a Shared Room or $366 Per Person for a Private Room.

A limited number of scholarships are available for those living in Washington State, with significant financial need.

Location: The Retreat Center at the Palisades

The moment you drive up to the Palisades Retreat Center, you sense it is a special, peaceful place. And it's a relatively short drive from most areas in Western Washington.

We’re thrilled to welcome seven new Lifeline Volunteers to the Cancer Lifeline team following the completion of our March training! This session was especially meaningful as it marked Veronica Dalton's first-time leading training in her new role as Volunteer & Lifeline Manager.

The three days were filled with great energy, thoughtful questions, and plenty of laughter, truly reflecting the enthusiasm and dedication each new volunteer brings. We’re so grateful for the time our new volunteers have already committed to our mission and we look forward to the incredible impact they’ll make in the lives of those we serve.

Interested in becoming a Lifeline volunteer? Our telephone and chat Lifeline are available Monday – Friday, 9am-5pm and provides emotional support and resource referrals to anyone affected by cancer. Volunteers must be comfortable listening to profound emotions and have the ability to be a good listener, provide non-judgmental support and understand that listening does not equate to giving advice or trying to fix some aspect of the situation.

Our next volunteer training will take place in June. If you are interested in becoming a Lifeline Specialist, reach out to Veronica.

In the world of cancer support, every journey is as unique as the individual walking it. For many, joining a Cancer Lifeline support group is a courageous first step—one taken in the midst of fear, loss, or uncertainty. Participants often arrive carrying heavy questions and quiet hopes, unsure of what they’ll find or how they’ll be received. They take a seat in a circle or log onto Zoom, not yet knowing the power that space will hold.

Within the safety of shared stories and compassionate listening, something begins to shift. Walls come down. Connections form. A sense of belonging takes root. These support groups grow into more than just scheduled meetings—they become lifelines. In this space, clients rediscover their voice, their strength, and sometimes even a sense of peace they didn’t know they were missing.

And then—sometimes—they reach a point where they say something both powerful and bittersweet: “I think I’m ready to move on.” Read More.

The Moving Beyond Cancer to Wellness Conference is taking place Sat, June 7th from 8:30am-3pm at The Fred Hutch Cancer Center.

This annual in-person free event is designed to provide education on a variety of the late and long-term effects faced by cancer survivors after treatment is completed and to promote wellness and empowerment after cancer. Complimentary light continental breakfast & lunch will be provided as well as parking.

Listen to the presentation by Mack Dryden, writer, comedian and actor who has appeared on several shows including The Tonight Show. As a two-time cancer survivor, he shares inspiring, motivating and hilarious stories about his experience in “Live Happy, Laugh Loud — Celebrating Cancer Survival.” The event will feature breakout sessions, a survivor panel discussion, and opportunities for networking.

We are honored to be one of the community organizations hosting a table. Be sure to stop by and say hello! Learn more & register.

What sparked your interest in joining Cancer Lifeline’s Board of Directors?

My friend and former MBA classmate was a board member and knew I was looking to join a nonprofit board. I lost my best friend to cancer at a very young age and my friend would have greatly benefited from the services offered at Cancer Lifeline, so I feel deeply connected to the work Cancer Lifeline is doing. As a mental health therapist, I also greatly appreciate Cancer Lifeline's integration of support programs for cancer patients, survivors and oncology service professionals.  

How long have you been volunteering with Cancer Lifeline as a Board Member and what is your role? 

My first Cancer Lifeline board meeting as a Board of Directors member was November 18, 2024. I participate in two committees: the Finance committee and the Board Governance Committee.

What do you find most fulfilling about serving on the Board of Directors?

Building relationships with other compassionate and engaged community members who care deeply about giving back and supporting others. 

How has your life been affected by cancer? 

In 2020, I lost my best friend to an aggressive form of breast cancer. 

What do you see as the biggest needs cancer patients and caregivers have?  

Support. Receiving or witnessing someone receiving a cancer diagnosis can be very scary and our health systems are incredibly complex and difficult to navigate. It can be overwhelming, and it is crucial that folks have organizations like Cancer Lifeline they can turn to for guidance and support through what can be one of life's most difficult events.

Please tell us about your “Day Job”.

I have been a mental health therapist for more than 13 years and have owned my own therapy private practice (Anchor Counseling & Consulting, PLLC) since 2018 where I see clients who are experiencing life and career transitions and/or experiencing anxiety or depression symptoms, as well as work with LGBTQ+ couples. In addition to my therapy work, I have served in a corporate finance capacity within tech and healthcare sectors. Currently, my full-time role is at Fred Hutch Cancer Center where I serve as Finance Manager of Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) Strategy.  

Tell us something about yourself that you would like to share in general.

I am a serial hobbyist; I tend to go all-in on new hobbies all the time, which have ranged from singing in the Seattle Men's Chorus to playing the piano to making my own wine. One of the hobbies I plan to tackle in 2025 is race car drifting! I am also very involved in Seattle Rotary Club (Seattle Rotary 4 for those familiar) and serve on the International Service Committee and Seattle Rotary Mariners committee. 

Join our exceptional board! We continuously welcome new members. Learn more here.

We’re proud to recognize Virginia Mason Franciscan Health for their strong commitment to cancer care and community health. As leaders in integrated, patient-focused healthcare, their support helps Cancer Lifeline provide free programs and services to thousands of individuals impacted by cancer each year.



Thank you, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, for partnering with us to make vital support more accessible to those who need it most.

Our Sponsors Make it Possible

Cancer Lifeline is grateful for the leadership and support of the following sponsors