We are HOPE: How community support helps cancer survivors reset and heal
“What is the goal of the I AM HOPE Survivors Reset Retreat?”
Shay Moraga reflects on five years of building the grassroots non-profit Shay's Warriors and launching the inaugural I AM HOPE Survivors Reset Retreat in Coachella Valley. She celebrates bringing 25 female survivors together for a restorative weekend supported by community grants, donations, and volunteer support.
Takeaways:
Grassroots non-profits require resilience, continuous learning, and community backing to achieve long-term impact.
Post-treatment support retreats offer survivors essential peer connection, education, and restorative rest.
Micro-donations, merchandise purchases, and social media sharing collectively create significant support networks for survivors.
Peer connection helps survivors transition out of post-treatment isolation into long-term healing.
As I sit at my desk writing this letter, I reflect over the past 5 years and I am filled with gratitude. No one tells you how hard it is starting a grassroots non-profit. It is a process where you learn, make mistakes, ask for forgiveness, and work harder than anything you have ever worked for because it gives you purpose, brings others joy, and creates deep impact.
The mission of Shay's Warriors and community work
Our mission at Shay’s Warriors is to inspire, empower, and educate others about life after cancer through the mind, body, and connection. This weekend we will host our inaugural I AM HOPE Survivors Reset Retreat held right here in our beautiful Coachella Valley. It is our gift to twenty-five amazing women who have been through the darkest of storms.
The past three years have been a challenge but we did not give up. We continued to write grants, host virtual workshops, sold our inspiring merchandise and gifted over 50 survivors “Love Bombs”. The impact was more than we could have ever imagined, and seeing this, we were more determined to host our in-person retreat.
Launching the inaugural I AM HOPE retreat
Well, that weekend has come. Tomorrow twenty-Five women will start their journey to enjoy a weekend full of inspiration, education, collaboration, and much needed relaxation. They will have the opportunity to lean on each other through this one-of-a-kind experience. It is our sincere hope that they will walk away from this experience with lifetime friendships. None of this could have been possible without the incredible community that has helped us along the way.
Yes, I say our community because if you have been to any of our events, bought any of our merchandise, gifted us anything for our raffles you have contributed.. If you have hosted an event for us, approved a grant, shared our posts, gave from your heart, or told someone about us you are just as much a part of this weekend as we are. Together we created a ripple effect that will last for years to come.
Expressing gratitude to community partners and supporters
Thank you for helping achieve this goal by giving these beautiful humans something without expectation. We are so excited to greet these women on Friday and spend the weekend with them being inspired by their stories of hope, strength and resilience.
Lastly, I would like to mention our amazing partners, community collaborators, all of our volunteers, my family and friends who have all helped at one time or another. Thank you to my board of directors past and present, you have all helped in making this happen. Thank you to the Lord for always watching over me. Thanks to my dad, because every time I questioned if this was the right path I know he sent a sign down from above. Including yesterday when unexpectedly it rained in the desert and as I drove to meet our team, I saw that rainbow in the sky.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for helping us live HOPE in Color and make an impact on the hearts of those who never expected it!
Xo
Shay
Read more about lessons learned along the survivorship path in Shay’s blog on life after cancer and what I have learned.
You don't have to navigate this alone.
Facing an advanced cancer diagnosis or managing complex treatment side effects can feel overwhelming. Lean on our community for compassionate support every step of the way. Connect with our virtual and in-person survivor support groups today.