FOUNDATION FACTS: THIS IS OUR STORY
Our Founders | Board Members and Officers
In Hawaii, on December 8, 2003, the day of my 25th birthday, I found a round lump in my breast and became somewhat alarmed of my discovery. I called my doctor and he scheduled my appointment. (Natalie Unga)
Today, after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003 and following surgery, Chemotherapy and Radiation, Natalie Unga is cancer free. In early 2005, Natalie was determined to help others preserve their legacies, but she also dreamed that she could play a role in helping cancer patients and their families heal as she did through the magic of writing their stories.
She clearly understood the therapeutic remedy of story after she created her storybook and shared it with others going through similar experiences. “If you can tell your story, you are not only helping yourself, but you are assisting others who are struggling in knowing that they are not alone,” exclaimed Natalie.
In early June 2005, a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Foundation for Stories of Cancer Heroes was formed with Natalie, a cancer survivor, being named its President; Bill Jeffs, an Attorney of Law and David Clark, CEO of Intermountain Health Care were named as the first Board Members. Additional board members were added in March 2006: Danny Temkin, President of Temkin International; Candace May, mother of a six year old cancer survivor and co-founder of storybooking process. Treasurer of the Foundation is Cori Overson, mother of a cancer survivor and executive assistant to Danny Temkin.
We want to help you to write your story!
WHAT WE DO
We provide an opportunity for each child, youth, adult and/or their families who have experienced Cancer, to write and publish their stories so as to ensure that heroes will be remembered and legacies will be preserved.
We are educating the world through the stories of those who have experienced cancer or had a family member experience it. By educating through story we help individuals understand that people who have cancer are still people. We can understand cancer and not fear it.
We are creating awareness by having survivors, families of those touched by cancer, oncology nurses and doctors write their stories and publish them in a hard bound book. The lasting treasures of a story will live on from generation to generation and help all those who read them to know the importance of taking care of our bodies and doing all that we can to prevent cancer.
We are providing therapy to those who have suffered from cancer and helping them to release their emotions from the experience by writing their story. We are also helping family members who have lost a loved one to preserve their lives in a story. We are helping the Medical staff who works day in and day out battling cancer to find a way to document their journey.
The process of putting photos with the stories and publishing them into hardbound books is priceless. Many may not realize the importance and urgency of writing the stories of our lives. But those who have fought to keep their life find it priceless.