Exactly one year ago, I was in the post-op room of New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell hospital. It marked the beginning of my cancer treatment, the combination of surgeries and chemo that would leave me cancer free by February. It was the hardest months of my life, but with the support of my incredible community, here I am a year later with a new job in a new house in a new city.

When I first received my diagnosis, a close friend who survived multiple diagnoses in her 20s said, "Now you get to go to Cancer Camp!" And I learned about an amazing program that sends young adults who have battled cancer on a week of hiking, canoeing, camping, and reflection -  a chance to embark on a journey together with others like me who have already faced and beat the toughest journey of our lives.

Lucky for me, this camp also includes caregivers, so Lindsay and I will go together the first week of October to Utah.  We haven't planned one bit of this trip, from food to plane tickets, everything is done for us. Our promise to True North Treks is that we'll work toward making this opportunity available to others in the future. I get to go because someone went before me and now I get to Pay-It-Forward by sharing my experience with others. So many of you showed up for us last year with cards, gifts, dinners, phone calls, blankets, and many other wonderful gifts. I hope you can find it in your wallet to continue to support families like ours. Any amount helps.  

PS. If you already gave to Lindsay, please don't feel you need to give again! This is as much an awareness building campaign as it is fundraising. And to that end, if you know someone who's under 40 and a cancer survivor, please share!!!

With so much love!

Caroline