July E-News 
 
 
The mission of CSCVVSB  

is to ensure that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action, and sustained by community.   

 

All programs and services are provided free of charge.

A big THANK YOU
to Stonefire Grill for their generous and delicious donation
for our June 25 Community Dinner! 

 

Survivor Profile: Ursula Taylor 

 

Ursula celebrates her survival in Kauai, three months after surgery
Ursula Taylor is a brain tumor survivor and a member of the Cancer Support Community Valley/Ventura/Santa Barbara. Prior to her diagnosis, Ursula was a practicing physician. She lives in Thousand Oaks with her husband and three sons and enjoys dancing and music - specifically Zumba, belly dancing, and violin lessons. Thank you for inspiring us with your optimism and enthusiasm, Ursula!

Finding out that my brain tumor was highly malignant was totally terrifying. For a whole week after the surgery, the answer still wasn't back. In my mind, I was convinced this was a slow growing benign tumor, since it was huge. So when I found out it was "high grade glioma" I panicked. I knew this was dangerous and I faced difficult medical treatments ahead, if I'd even survive. Yes, going through chemo and radiation was awful, but also exhilarating. I got a chance to show how strong I really am, how much backbone I have.

 Click here to read Ursula's story.

 
Creating  Your Life Through Music         

"Music helps us feel what we need to feel. It helps us be who we really are, which is at the root of all healing." ~Kalani Das, MT-BC

Special thanks to Board-Certified Music Therapist and CscVvsb Workshop Leader Kalani Das, MT-BC for sharing seven ways music can be a healing part of anyone's life - whether your idea of music is Chopin or Chopsticks.

Click here to read seven easy ways to get real benefits from music!  
Sherry Stern: Making a Difference, One Stitch at a Time

Fifteen years ago, Sherry Stern's friend asked if she'd like to volunteer as a House Manager for the Cancer Support Community Valley/Ventura/Santa Barbara's biggest fundraiser of the year: the Holiday Homes Tour. "I had heard of The Wellness Community [as it was called then] but didn't really know what I was saying yes to," says Sherry. "Going to the organizing committee meeting, I met a group of wonderful women, with great energy and abilities to get things done."

 

Click here to read more.  

 

 
One Simple Act. Many Great Results.        
 
The next time you are in a line at the post office, bank or theater consider this: only one in three people around you has a will. As you ponder the people in line with you, it does not matter how rich, poor, young or old they may be. The simple fact is that most people in this country do not have a legally binding will or estate plan. Without a plan, the legislature in Sacramento controls who gets your assets and when they get them.

Wondering where to begin? The Cancer Support Community Valley/Ventura/Santa Barbara offers a complimentary Wills Guide to help you begin organizing.  To download a copy, please click here. 

We also offer a Wills Planner on our website. The Wills Planner helps create the peace of mind that comes with having a plan.  Just two services we offer on our website to help you organize and plan for the future.

Click here to learn more, including four benefits of having a will, the keys to estate planning ease, and a list of the best websites to help with retirement planning.

If you have additional questions, please contact Suzanne Drace at 805-371-0417. 
  
Not Your Average Trip to the Mall

A fitness-and-philanthropy-minded flash mob took over The Oaks mall on June 18 to raise funds for CscVvsb while burning some serious calories. Many thanks to Fit 4 The Cause and The Oaks for putting together such a fabulous fundraiser! Click here to check out photos.
Have you Seen Our Donor Wall?
  
CscVvsb is delighted to announce the completion of our Donor Wall in the Reception area. Our Donor Wall reflects the lifetime and annual giving of those who have supported our mission and have made it possible for CscVvsb to continue to offer FREE programs of support, education and hope to adults and children affected by cancer and their families for more than 22 years.

We would like to thank all of those who contributed to the wall including Signature Signs, Mark Brandes and Ginny Rickey for the portraits, Judi Bumstead for the Donor Wall photo, and Jo-Ann Capelaci and Jule Lucero for their design expertise. Please stop by and take a look for yourself!

If you would like to become a CscVvsb Donor, please click here. If you have made provisions for a gift to CscVvsb as part of your estate plan, please let us know by filling out this form.

 
 
Volunteer Opportunities at CscVvsb

Interested in giving back to the Cancer Support Community Valley/Ventura/Santa Barbara? There are many ways to make a difference.
 
 Click here to view current volunteer opportunities! 
Cancer Support Community