Wellbeing Retreats for Cancer Recovery

Aim

SeaChange Retreats provide surf and wellbeing retreats to adult cancer survivors to support them emotionally and physically post-treatment.

Led by Dr Helen Reynolds, Specialist Clinical Psychologist; Dannie MacLennan, Project Coordinator; and Dr Bhavna Oza, NHS Doctor, SeaChange Retreats are clinically-driven day, weekend and week retreats specifically designed for adults recovering from cancer. We are a Community Interest Company, meaning that we are here to benefit our community, rather than our shareholders. 

Surf and yoga sessions help to rebuild physical strength, while emotional resilience is developed through recovery-focused workshops and mindfulness practice. Joined by others with shared experiences, we hope participants will leave feeling physically and mentally nourished, connected, and better equipped to deal with the challenges posed by cancer recovery in their day-to-day lives. 

Our Crowdfunder Campaign aims to raise £10,000 to enable us to deliver these retreats to cancer survivors, supporting them on their journey through recovery.

The Big 'C'

One in two people will develop cancer at some point in their lives, and it has the ability to impact absolutely every aspect of an individual. From the moment of diagnosis, life fundamentally changes. Daily life is put on pause, and cancer treatment becomes the priority.  

The end of treatment signifies a key milestone for all cancer survivors, however this is not the end of the journey. Physically, the lasting effects of treatment are substantial. Fatigue and pain, alongside body changes resulting from treatment require adaptation and adjustment. Survivors may have to come to terms with a ‘new normal’ that includes both physical and psychological ramifications – the impact of cancer on their bodies, relationships, education and employment, their body image and self-confidence, navigating a changing identity, the list goes on. Levels of anxiety, stress and depression are consistently higher in cancer survivorship, with the fear of cancer recurrence ever-present.

Enter: SeaChange Retreats

Every component of SeaChange Retreats has been specially selected to strengthen recovery from cancer. Driven by research, commitment and compassion, each of the team bring different expertise, from clinical psychology and surf instruction, to mindfulness, yoga, and exercise oncology. Combined, we offer an alternative approach to cancer recovery.

Research highlights the importance of exercise in reducing the risk of cancer recurrence, as well as tackling some of the side effects of cancer treatment such as cancer-related fatigue. Yoga has also been found to improve psychological outcomes (depression, distress, anxiety), quality of life, sleep and fatigue. Our surf and yoga sessions aim to get participants moving, helping them to re-build confidence in a body that may have let them down or one that has weakened over the course of treatment, as well as helping participants to think about how to develop their own yoga practice to maintain the benefits over time.  

Developed in response to feedback from cancer survivors and experts in the field, emotional resilience and psychological well-being is supported through recovery-focused workshops and mindfulness practice, facilitated by Helen, a Specialist Clinical Psychologist, alongside other clinical experts. The workshops aim to tackle some of the key issues facing adults post-cancer, for example dealing with the fear that the cancer will return; managing pain and fatigue; exploring how to adjust psychologically to life post-cancer. The workshops provide an opportunity for participants to share ideas, experiences and gain knowledge that supports them in moving forward in their lives. 

The Department of Health recognises that more focus is needed on the long-term consequences of cancer that extend far beyond the end of curative treatment. Our Crowdfunder aims to generate enough funding to offer these retreats to those that most need them, to support them in their recovery journey.  

What your money will be spent on

For our initial retreats, our amazing sponsors and supporters have gifted us their time and resources: Newquay Activity Centre are kindly offering all surf equipment for free, and 12 Beach Road are gifting their beautiful venue space for us to use. Morven Hamilton (Yoga By Nature) has also kindly gifted her yoga instruction. All of our partners believe these retreats NEED to happen and will give it all they have to make them a reality. 

As well as supporting our initial retreat running costs, your money will also help us to fund our 2021 retreats, enabling us to reach as many cancer survivors as we possibly can. Our aim is to run retreats March-November every year. You will help us to:

• Cover our overheads and running costs, such as insurance and training, website development and marketing, retreat coordination; 
• Help to fund a venue that facilitates psychological safety and enables us to share vulnerability; 
• Enable us to provide incredible subsidised food and drinks to fuel participants throughout the day; 
• Enable us to bring on board fantastic speakers and instructors such as psychologists, dieticians, physiotherapists and doctors, to ensure our participants receive the best information, training and advice to support them in their recovery journey.
• Expand our retreats to support others who are affected by cancer, for example those living with cancer, and those supporting adults living with or fighting cancer.
  
• Gain valuable feedback and clinical outcomes to help us to approach NHS commissioners to fund the retreats sustainably for the future. 

So please - pledge. Help us to make this unique approach to cancer recovery a reality. 

Our Rewards

All of our awesome rewards can be viewed on the right hand side of this page or in the rewards tab (if viewing on smartphone).  We have a wide range of sporting and adventure experiences, restaurant vouchers and relaxing treatments available that have very kindly been donated to our Crowdfunder. We also have some beautiful rewards that need to be seen to be appreciated including artwork and clothing. You can see these all below, as well as some extra details for some of our other rewards.

• Clare Mills Art - Your choice of 8 x 8 inches or 8 x 6 inches signed, original, limited- edition print from the 5 featured below. See @claremills_art for bigger pictures of those featured. SALE ON! Was £35, Now £25!

• Sea Change Wines - Case of 12 bottles of ethically sourced eco-friendly wines from our name sake (SOLD)

12 bottles including:
2 x Chardonnay,
1 x Merlot,
2 x Negroamaro,
2 x Prosecco,
1 x Provence Rosé,
2 x Rosé,
2 x Sauvignon Blanc

More details about Sea Change Wine on their website at https://seachangewine.com/eco-friendly-wines/

Over 18s only.

• Finisterre - Fully waterproof backpack £75 (SOLD)

• Frexinet Prosecco 75cl. SALE ON! Was £15, Now £10! 

Check out the sparkle on this beautiful bottle! Plus simply delicious bubbles...
Over 18s only.

• 3 Month Coaching Programme with Scott Drummond. 
  SALE ON! Was £900, Now £500
  
  At Unfolding Potential, Scott coaches leaders and fathers who are hungry for balanced and fulfilling lives full of joy, meaning and lasting positive impact. He supports these people to realise their full potential at work, flourish at home, and drive lasting positive impact in their communities, so that they can contribute to a better world - a world where the positive impact of conscious, creative, connected and courageous leadership and fatherhood is lasting and felt by as many people as possible.
  
  Scott is an accredited Co-Active Training Institute (CTI) transformational coach, with a deep curiosity for unlocking human potential. He has spent the last 10+ years in the advertising and publishing industries guiding companies of all shapes and sizes and across sectors to communicate more effectively, with a focus on digital/social media strategy. 6 sessions for 3 month package, or upgrade to 6 month coaching programme (12 sessions) for a total pledge of £1500. Can be completed remotely or face to face. Contact us for more info.
  
  
• Women & Waves Hoodie - check out this little stunner. (SOLD)

• 'Above The Waves' print by Lumikha (SOLD)
  

• Sprout Health Foods goody bag! (SOLD) 

• Surf Kernow - Check out the range of designs available from surfkernow.uk! You can pick any of the tees or caps from the range (subject to availability).  We will send you a message asking for your choice once you purchase the reward from the rewards tab / right hand side of this page. (SOLD) 

• Set of 6 Tamsin Thomson Art mugs (£90 for set). each mug features 2 of Tamsin's beautiful paintings. (SOLD)

• Art By Fi Knox of Misty's Art for Animals All original art pieces (no prints). Artwork details in reward descriptions.
  

Above: Tiny watercolour of the Scottish West Coast. £15, 8x6 inches. (SOLD)

Above: Falling Asleep on the Job is not Acceptable. £15, 8 x 10 inches. (SOLD)

Above: Autumn On The Hill. SALE ON! Was £25, Now £15! 10 x 10 inches. Original mixed media drawing on paper in crisp white mount, ready to frame.

Above: I Really Really Like You. SALE ON! Was £25, Now £15! 11 x 14 inches in white mount. Original ink on paper.

Above: Don't Mess With Mabel. £35, 20 x 14 inches. (SOLD)

Above: Grey Mares Love You Best. £35, 16 x 16 inches. (SOLD)

Above: Saying Thank You To Rudolph. £35, 14 x 18 inches in white mount. Original ink and watercolour on paper. (SOLD)

Above: Shallow Water. £40, 14 x 18 inches. (SOLD)

Above: Deep Water. £40, 14 x 18 inches. (SOLD)

Above: Nature Is Not Tame. SALE ON! Was £45, Now £25! 22 x 16 inches. Original watercolour on paper, ready to mount.

• Dyson Mortimer Art - All original art pieces (no prints). Artwork details in reward descriptions.

Above: 'Watergate Bay' - photocopy of ink, fine liner and sharpie on thin paper - suggested donation £10. (SOLD)

Above: 'Marbled Mountains' - sharpie and ink marbling on 140gsm art paper - suggested donation £25. (SOLD)

Above: 'Sun & Waves' - sharpie on 140gsm fine art paper - suggested donation £35. (SOLD)

This project successfully funded on 11th September 2020