Stowe Weekend of Hope Hosts Hundreds of Cancer Survivors

As happens the first weekend of every May in Stowe, we hosted the 8th Annual Stowe Weekend of Hope. As far as we know, there is no other event that a.) Offers complimentary hotel rooms for first-time attendee cancer survivors and their families/loved ones; b.) Is an event that involves people challenged by any kind of cancer (in fact, there were an astounding 46 different types of cancer represented) c.) Involves an entire business community led by Stowe Area Association and working with a regional hospital (Fletcher Allen Health Care) in the planning and execution.

Nearly 1,000 cancer survivors (called survivors because we believe that if you're living with cancer, you're a survivor!) and their companions took advantage of the free workshops facilitated by specialists from around New England and organized by The Vermont Cancer Center. Visitors to Stowe from both far and near attended the inspirational events, with 21 states, the US Virgin Islands and Canada represented. This year's program celebrated diversity, with packed houses at Equine Therapy, Macrobiotic Cooking, and Writing to Heal seminars as well as Signs of Spring Nature Walks-just to list a few. Experts expounded on Health Benefits of Yoga, Reiki and Massage as well as instructing on diet, reading pathology reports, empowerment, healing, new technologies, stress and connecting—again, just to list a few.



Getting a jump on the proceedings were the passengers of the Amtrak Train of Hope, which arrived on Thursday evening. Amtrak donates an entire car of The Vermonter, which runs from DC to Stowe along the Eastern Seaboard. (We LOVE Amtrak! Take the train! Save energy and give ‘em a boost!) The Train of Hope started because of a need, in 2002, and every succeeding year Cynthia Werth from Stowe has been our official ambassador on the train. This year her two teen-aged kids, Adam and Emily joined her. Cynthia speaks to each and every passenger on the train, learning their story, their struggles and their hopes. She informs them about the weekend and what's in store. Stowe Area Association’s Chris Osmond also reaches out by phone and makes sure that each passenger’s needs are met

On Friday afternoon at our Opening Ceremony Governor Jim Douglas presented us with an official proclamation stating that May 2-3, 2008 is The Stowe Weekend of Hope. U.S. Congressman Peter Welch also offered warm words of welcome to the gathered crowd. Warm words were welcome indeed, because the Courtyard at Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa, our gracious hosts, turned chilly when the sun decided to take a powder. But, in truly hospitable style, Stoweflake offered up blankets to huddle in, and we lost nary a soul to the Vermont spring coolness. The crowd warmed further to the Keynote Speaker, larynectomee Marianne Koojiman from the Netherlands. Despite losing her vocal chords to cancer, Marianne has spoken internationally about the challenges she has overcome since being diagnosed in 1989. The audience was terrifically appreciative of Marianne's courage, jumping to their feet to applaud when she finished.

Attendees had the option of having their name tag labeled with the type of cancer they had, and were also offered the chance during the "Matchmaking" session, to connect with others with similar cancers. Networking at the Stowe Weekend of Hope should NOT be underestimated. Learning to reach out or allowing yourself to respond to someone reaching out to you is so important.

Saturday morning the attendees all got to work, educating themselves, buttonholing the experts, visiting the Health Fair and chatting up the vendors. Saturday evening we held the Chicken Pie Supper and Closing Ceremony at the iconic Stowe Community Church in the village. This all-volunteer effort (thank you, volunteer coordinator Leslie Anderson!) was undertaken for the Amtrak Train of Hope passengers, as they needed to leave on Sunday morning and would miss the “official” Closing Ceremony. U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders visited us and spoke briefly. Bernie (as he is known in our little state) stopped by last year as well, but has never had time to sit and sup. Maybe next year, Bernie?

After doggedly monitoring the weather--with thanks to weather guru extraordinaire, Roger Hill, for all his help—we made the difficult decision on Sunday morning to stay indoors for our Closing Ceremony and Dedication of Flags of Hope and Healing. Six out of the past seven years we’ve been able to hold the ceremony in the glorious surroundings of the Trapp Family Lodge Concert Meadow. This year it was not to be. But hey, you know what? It really didn’t’ matter! Holding the ceremony inside the warm and cozy Stowe High School Auditorium was rockin’! As befits the close of an event with “HOPE” as the operative word, we went out with joy and celebration, thanks to our musical guests. Our “house band” Primitive Soul drives up from New Jersey every year and anchors the festivities. These are MAJORLY talented pros, who have played with the best. Vermont singer-song-writer Jon Gailmor joined us, bringing down the house with his completely appropriate song “Say It Now”, with the chorus:

Say it now, say it now, anytime, anyhow Grab the moment, while you got it. Let them hear it. Say it now! How you're feeling-just set it free. Don't wait till it's a eulogy
Right now, say it now, say it now!




As they do every year, the Dance Academy of Stowe’s T.R.I.P. Dancers brought their young energy, grace and talent to 3 numbers, exquisitely directed by Helena Sullivan. And making their debut this year was The Stowe Community Chorus, directed by Jane Harissis. Jane and her group learned the back-up vocals on Simple Minds’ ALIVE AND KICKIN’, and Primitive Soul led us all in a dance-inducin’, hallelujah-evokin’, spirit-elevatin’, soul-jubilatin’ life-lovin’ DANCE OF HOPE! (A nod to The Boss for that rant, and a side note of memorial to E Street Band keyboardist Danny Federici, who succumbed to melanoma last month) With the annual reading of the Lakota Prayer of Healing to dedicate the Flags of Hope and Healing created throughout the weekend, we began to close in on the end of our time together. But not before Primitive Soul and all of our musical performers led the crowd in singing YOU RAISE ME UP. Tears, hugs, and an exchange of contact info, well-wishes, and lots of “We’ll see you next year: RIGHT??”

How is Stowe able to offer this? Well, it's probably no surprise that one in three people are living with cancer in one form or another, and cancer has certainly touched many of us here. Stowe also has a history of humanitarian giving. We offered R&R to emergency workers at Ground Zero directly after the horrific attacks. Our town has held fundraisers for community members in need over and over again. A small town in numbers, but a town with a big heart. We’re extremely fortunate to live here, and we don’t take it for granted. This gratitude translates into the action of giving

Oh, and the 9th Annual Stowe Weekend of Hope will be again the first weekend in May. Registration will commence at http://www.stowehope.org/ sometime in February.