Founded by a survivor for survivors...

Why was this charity developed?

This project began in Manhattan and was conceived and implemented by one grateful survivor living there in response to her experience with healing and breast cancer. Luana Halpern has enlisted the skills and services of those in the community who feel kindred to the cause and choose to use their free time and skills for to make a real difference. Read her story here. . .

New York State has the second highest rate of breast cancer in the country, and breast cancer is the second most frequently diagnosed cancer in women. We have begun by making integrative resources affordable for those diagnosed in New York, and plan a future where these helpful treatments will be affordable to all those living in the United States.

OUR FOCUS ON HEALING

You Can Thrive Foundation provides a community service in administration and marketing so that volunteers can provide Free integrative therapies as a supplement to medical care for breast cancer survivors. Our qualified volunteers provide services such as, educational resources and peer support to the breast cancer community-- people diagnosed, living with and in treatment for breast cancer. To help alleviate mental and physical distress and disability, these common proven therapies can promote continued healing and improve patient outcome.  Some services that our volunteers offer include acupuncture, massage, aromatherapy, reflexology, meditation guidance, peer support, and wellness/nutritional coaching.

We advocate for quality of life programs that help alleviate unnecessary pain, disability, and psychosocial distress (ex: fear of death & recurrence) that often accompanies a diagnosis of cancer, and resurfaces after treatment or during extended living with disease. Acupuncture and other therapies are helpful in managing treatment related fatigue and enhancing a sense of wellbeing. By providing affordable access to the resources, and peer and community support needed to help them cope with their disease, You Can Thrive’s Integrative Wellness Center bridges the gap in long-term survivorship plans for breast cancer survivors in NYC.

Our goal is to help:

  • Develop programs, information and strategies that provide the best integrative care to patients for those living with, through, and beyond cancer and interested in these therapies.
  • To help survivors implement a 'whole body' long-term approach that is affordable to all survivors as a supplement to medical care and hence, promote continued security in healing following diagnosis and/or treatment, at the stage when many survivors begin feeling more powerless.
  • To support survivors in accessing these and other educational resources as well as social and emotional support, so that they may become an educated partner in the healing process, and receive the peer and community support needed to cope with disease.

    • Many diagnosed experience great difficulty in making the transition from being ill and going through treatment, to thriving as a survivor, our organization offers information, volunteer services and peer support to help during and after this transition.

    Our foundation should soon be recognized as a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation. We welcome support from individuals and other foundations who have funds that can be allocated towards our goal of raising money for quality of life programs to benefit survivors of breast cancer.