Our Mission: To improve the quality of life for individuals and families affected by cancer through practical, emotional, and spiritual support.

Who We Are: Cancer Connection began with a cancer diagnosis. Karen Greif, our co-founder, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000. By the time she finished surgery and chemotherapy, she and her husband Bill knew they wanted to do something to help others facing those life-changing words: “You have cancer”. In 2004, Karen left her pastorate at Hope Presbyterian Church joining Bill and friend Jane Louis to form Cancer Connection (formerly known as CanCare Austin), a volunteer based cancer support network.

The heart of our work lies in the goal of offering hope, companionship, and encouragement to those facing a cancer diagnosis. Cancer Connection is a network of volunteer survivors and caregivers who provide peer-to-peer support to anyone dealing with cancer (patients and family member/caregivers) regardless of which type of cancer. There is no cost for our services, and the support can be offered by phone and/or by personal visits.

Volunteer Opportunities: In partnership with Austin-area hospitals, oncology treatment centers, and the Lance Armstrong Foundation, Cancer Connection recruits and trains volunteers who each have had a cancer diagnosis or cared for a family member with cancer. After extensive training, our volunteers are then matched with referrals according to cancer site, age, gender and family situation. Our volunteers offer short or long-term emotional support to cancer patients and their families. The service is unique in that the relationship between volunteer and referral is informed by shared experience. Hope for the individual with cancer is personified by the volunteer who shows up and says, “I had the same type of cancer you have. I am a survivor living a full life now, and I am here for you.”

Our volunteers also serve at local oncology treatment centers and hospitals to visit, bring comfort, and offer referrals to other local cancer service providers for a variety of needs. Cancer Connection also offers professionally led support groups and educational classes which encourage and empower our clients to participate in their own healing process.

Volunteer Training: We hold 10-hour weekend training workshops every six weeks that prepares our volunteers to serve in all of our volunteer programs. For more information about us, and to see our scheduled training dates,visit our Web site.

For Direct Inquiries, please contact:

Roni Ann Kendall
Volunteer Coordinator
Cancer Connection

(512) 342-0233
thecancerconnection.org

— Hawk Mendenhall