Cancer Support Community’s mission is to ensure that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action, and sustained by community. 
 
I was honored to take on the role of Executive Director in October. This team has navigated the COVID pandemic with professionalism and creativity, always keeping the patients and participants their priority. We will continue to offer virtual educational workshops, support groups, social activities, and healthy lifestyle classes so that no one in our community faces cancer alone.
 
We are bringing back this e-newsletter to keep you well-informed of our work and to share important updates. The newsletter will be a quarterly communication to our donors, participants and key stakeholders. Your feedback is welcome, so please reach out: mmerryman@cancersupportvvsb.org.
 
We thank you for your support and flexibility during a very difficult time for our communities. On behalf of the staff, we wish you and yours a healthy New Year! Take care of each other,
Monica 

“We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.” –Thornton Wilder
Monica E. Merryman
Executive Director
Cancer Support Community VVSB
CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF SERVING OVER 30,000 PARTICIPANTS!
Because of the support we have received, people in our community have a safe, comforting place to find support and essential information during their cancer experience. As 2021 unfolds, we will continue our work and celebrate our 30th anniversary throughout the year, so stay tuned for details! We are thankful to have you as part of the CSCVVSB family. Thank you for your continued support!
"DEAR CANCER, IT'S ME..." High School Essay Contest
An essay contest for high school students
to share their stories about living with cancer.

We are pleased to announce our 9th annual "Dear Cancer, It's Me..." High School Essay Contest. This exclusive program provides an outlet for local youth impacted by cancer to share their stories, while also providing an opportunity to win one of several cash scholarship awards. Living with cancer or having a loved one with cancer can be an enormous challenge, and this contest provides an opportunity for them to express their feelings through writing.

The contest is open to high school students attending schools located in CSCVVSB's service area including Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties, San Fernando and Santa
Clarita Valleys.

For contest rules, entry forms, scholarship information, and more click here.
MEET CSCVVSB CO-FOUNDER: Marty Nason, RN, MN & CSCVVSB Support Group Facilitator
From cancer patients I have learned to stop and smell the flowers. I am passionate about the outdoors, especially taking day trips into the high country, fishing and hiking to the top of Mt. Whitney. I like to cook, garden, read and be with friends and family.  

I have many interests, but my most important one is family. My ex-husband, partner for 20-plus years, my two daughters and four granddaughters, sustain me. Despite being out of state, the pandemic has resulted in more communication and being emotionally closer.

When I hear someone expressing how much participating at the Cancer Support Community has “saved” their life, I see the love offered as newcomers are welcomed into groups, and how participating transforms them from victim to victor, and I am profoundly touched. It is an honor to witness the testimony of the human spirit. I am deeply grateful to our multifaceted generous community for sustaining us these past thirty years.
MEET CSCVVSB CO-FOUNDER: Beth Kin, RN, MS, OCN, & CSCVVSB Board Secretary
I jokingly call CSC my first-born child, grown in the living room of my home. My two daughters, Samantha and Katia, have attended many of our events and CSC is part of who they are. I think Samantha’s cancer-focused fundraising is because of me! 
 
Opening the Wellness Community was very significant in that we gathered the support of many community leaders. I am an oncology nurse, so accomplishing this with Marty was amazing. To offer free support and workshops for the cancer community was rewarding and heartwarming.
 
One of my most cherished moments was during the gala live appeal. The bidder paddles never seemed to stop lifting in the air. I looked at Marty and said “look at the legacy we helped to create.” We both cried. 
 
Cancer will always be with us. There will always be participants to serve. We need the community’s support so that services will be available to our children and our children’s children.

I enjoy singing, walking, visiting monasteries and travel to Italy. I am grateful to be back to hospice nursing with Mission Healthcare. I personally became a participant in 2017 and I have experienced the magic that happens when participants support one another through the good and rough parts of having cancer. Being an oncology nurse didn’t mean I knew what it would be like. Only another cancer patient truly understands a cancer journey. The grace of that is endless.
COFFEE WITH THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Register online or call 805.379.4777

Please email your questions ahead of time to Donna Baharouzi.
SAVE THE DATES: 2021
Coffee with the Executive Director: Thursday, January 14, 2021

"Dear Cancer, It’s Me..." Awards Ceremony: Saturday, April 24, 2021

Hope Walk Week: Sunday, May 16 to May 24, 2021

Survivors Day Celebration: Sunday, June 6, 2021

CSCVVSB's 30th Anniversary: Thursday, June 17, 2021

Celebration of Hope: Thursday, September 23, 2021
SPECIAL EVENTS AND WORKSHOPS
Alexander Technique Explorations
Thursday, January 21st &
Thursday, January 28th
12:00 - 1:00 pm
Register online or call 805-379-4777