Journal for Women with Cancer to Benefit CANSA

Wilderness to Wellness proudly announces its partnership with the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) through the sales of its Journal aimed at women living with cancer as part of International Cancer Survivors’ month in June.

The ‘Wilderness to Wellness’ Journal is a handcrafted hard-cover book that assists women with a holistic wellness journey of recovery and healing. For most cancer patients, the emotional aspect of a cancer experience is difficult to navigate as physical healing is prioritised and, especially for women, they don’t have the privilege of focusing on their emotional healing and wellbeing for several reasons.

CANSA receives 20% from the sale of Wilderness to Wellness journals. These funds help sustain CANSA and enable it to promote cancer awareness, through health campaigns and education regarding the importance of early detection of cancer, through community screenings at CANSA Care Centres across South Africa.

Developed by friends, Mariska Ford and Karien Basson, who, after supporting a close friend on her difficult path with cancer, realised that there is a need for women to have access to both emotional and practical support during their cancer journeys. They feel that the process of writing down what you think, feel and experience will help you make sense of what lies beneath. It’s an opportunity to map new territories, gain fresh perspectives and ultimately learn and grow in love and understanding.

Both Ford and Basson obtained their diplomas in trauma counselling to help them develop this support system to help women to healing from the physical, emotional, and psychological effects of cancer at their own pace and where they feel most comfortable.

“We strongly believe that journaling is a powerful connection between your heart and your brain that can help you gain insight, clarity, self-awareness, and the emotional resilience necessary to live your best life,” says Basson.

The Wilderness to Wellness Journal was thoughtfully researched and includes crafted content for women who have been diagnosed with cancer such as practical advice, calendar, allocated space for notes of encouragement and hope, 47 journaling prompts and challenges, inspirational quotes, breathing and grounding exercises, creative prompts to keep busy during treatment and blank journaling pages for the reader to self-reflect and write.

Ford further explains, “Our hope is that upon completion, this journal will form the blueprint of one’s unique story and will help to maintain a sense of self that is separate from their cancer diagnosis.  We want this journal to support its readers every step of the way from Wilderness to Wellness. There are also plans in the future to release a general trauma journal that will be accessible for all genders and ages.”

CANSA is committed to connecting people facing cancer with information, day-to-day help as well as the care and support they need so that cancer survivors and their loved ones don’t have to face cancer alone by having support through every step of their cancer journey.

For more information about the Wilderness to Wellness Journals or to purchase one, go to   www.wildernesstowellness.co.za

(For more information, please contact Lucy Balona, Head: Marketing and Communication at CANSA at email lbalona@cansa.org.za. Call 011 616 7662 or mobile 082 459 5230.)

Published: 23 June 2023 | Last Updated: 4 August 2023
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, I have Cancer, Media Releases & News, Women's Health