Tanessa Noll's Fundraiser:

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014, after losing my sister-in-law to cancer in 2012, then my father-in-law in 2013. We faced a few other deaths in the family, and I worried about my two sons being raised around so much illness and grief. During my treatment, I worked hard to keep life normal. It meant walking my son to the bus stop each morning and being there when he got home from school. Exhausted from chemo, I attended school events, the local gym and celebrated birthdays. On bad days, I asked for help. On good ones, I tried to be there for others. I learned that people don’t always feel good about someone with cancer helping. I found myself hiding my cancer, just so I could show up for others and feel valued in my community.

As I start to regain my physical strength (and my hair!), I am asking myself, how do I truly heal?

I have been accepted to travel to Peru with A Fresh Chapter, an organization that helps those impacted by cancer move past this disease, through travel and volunteer service. I will spend two weeks volunteering with a community based project supporting families impacted by cancer at a home that provides lodging and meals, volunteering with mentally or physically challenged people at Mother Teresa’s Home For the Dying & The Destitute, or serving meals at daycares, retirement facilities and special needs schools. I will be a Cancer Ambassador in communities where cancer is often veiled in shame, secrecy and stigma. This experience will help me reflect on my cancer journey, while giving me the time alone to consider my next chapter of life.

I'm grateful to have received a scholarship from the Melissa Carroll Legacy Fund, which covers about half of the cost of this program. As a recipient, I will be creating a ripple impact plan to benefit my community when I return home. I plan to offer a writing workshop for youth, drawing from my travels, teaching and professional writing experience. This project excites me as well, since writing is my passion and is an important skill needed at every level of education. Your support will not only help the people of Peru but my small town in Washington. The total cost of the trip is over $5000, and I only need to fundraise $2500. I would greatly appreciate it if you would make a donation to help me go on this journey. If you read the zine I wrote, you know how much I appreciate the support I have received to date.

Leaving my family for two weeks sounds scary, but I wanted to take a leap of faith and see what kind of difference I could make in the world.  You can partner with me on this exciting opportunity to volunteer in Peru and back at home. 

Thank you for your support!

A Fresh Chapter (Alliance Foundation) is a Project in affiliation with Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs (SEE) a non profit public charity exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations will be used to cover program related costs and all US Donations of $100+ are eligible for a tax receipt.