OMA attended the June 4th Relay for Life in Medford Oregon for the third year. The event raised $65,000, included 47 teams, 540 participants and 200 survivors! Although temperatures rose to over 100 degrees, OMA provided chair massages to survivors and caregivers under the shade of a shady magnolia tree.

OMA Therapists Lesley Moehle and Gail Bailey were thrilled to meet 91 year old Clara Pursel, a 48 year survivor!

Casting for Recovery – Texas   May 13-15, 2016

 

OMA therapist Mary Liebermann, a volunteer staff member with the Casting for Recovery (CfR) Texas program, attended the annual Central Texas retreat held at Joshua Creek Ranch in Boerne, TX.   Fourteen women diagnosed with breast cancer were randomly selected to attend this unique retreat where they are able to talk about issues impacting their lives with fellow survivors and healthcare professionals; learn the therapeutic sport of fly fishing; take nature walks; experience restorative yoga; and receive a chair or hand and foot massage. CfR retreats last two-and-a-half days and 100% free for participants.

“The women who attended this year’s retreat were simply incredible. They were so willing to share their experience and be there to support each other. At the end of the weekend they left with new friends, new coping skills, and felt renewed and empowered….and they had a great time catching fish!”—–Mary Liebermann, LMT

This November, CfR-Texas will be piloting a new retreat exclusively for women with Stage IV/distant metastatic breast cancer. See https://castingforrecovery.org for more information about Casting for Recovery.

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On Wednesday, September 2nd, OMA participated in “Staying Connected, 2015 Wellness Fair for ERS (Employees Retirement System of Texas) Retirees.” It was held at the University of Texas JJ Pickle Research Center in Austin. This is the first year that OMA has been part of this event, which included information about wellness and health with hundreds of ERS retirees attending. OMA massage therapists and board members were able to talk to many people about oncology massage therapy and OMA’s services in the community.

On Thursday, June 18th, OMA participated in “Inside Out, 2015 Wellness Fair,” in downtown Austin. This is the third year that OMA has been part of the State’s event, which includes information about wellness, health and physical fitness with nearly 800 – 1,000 State employees attending.

OMA’s oncology-trained massage therapists enjoyed networking with healthcare practitioners and State employees as they talked about oncology massage therapy and the services that OMA offers to cancer survivors and caregivers.

The Cancer 180 Survivorship Symposium for Young Adults was held on Saturday, April 18th at the Thompson Conference Center on the University of Texas campus. It was put on by MD Anderson and Cancer Support Community Central Texas and had about 70 attendees.

This event travels around to different parts of Texas and this is their first time to be in the Austin area. Board members Yvonne Larue and Geri Ruane represented OMA; they talked with many participants who were interested in our services.