Reflecting on 2025 with Gratitude and Hope

As we look back on 2025, we are filled with gratitude for the progress we’ve made, the lives we’ve touched, and the incredible support of our community. Each month, Cancer Support Community Central Ohio delivers evidence-based programs, high-quality education, and personalized emotional support, provided at no cost to anyone impacted by cancer. At the heart of our mission is a simple truth: Community Is Stronger Than Cancer. Every program we offer honors individual experiences while fostering a community of compassion, strength, and understanding. As the holiday season approaches, we are especially thankful for our supporters, who make this work possible and invite you to join us in bringing hope, comfort, and connection to those who need it most.  

Our work is organized around five key pillars of care, each addressing a vital aspect of the cancer experience:  

Support Services

From support and networking groups to short-term counseling and expressive arts, our Support Services help participants navigate the emotional and practical challenges of cancer. This year, we are especially proud of the meaningful connections formed through our support groups. Our Metastatic Cancer Support Group continues to be a powerful source of honesty, laughter, and hope for those living with advanced cancer, where participants often discover courage, connection, and the freedom to live fully in each moment.

Participants also experience the unique comfort of our Pet Therapy program, where the calming presence of our therapy dogs, Howard and MrBill,  provides gentle reassurance, emotional support, and a comforting reminder of the support available at every step of their journey. 

If you'd like to support Pet Therapy or groups like our Metastatic Cancer Support Group, Click Here to Donate!

Educational Programs

Knowledge empowers. Through cancer-specific workshops and lunchtime learning sessions, we help participants better understand their diagnosis, treatment, and emotional health, ensuring access to trusted information and practical tools. This year, our educational initiatives opened doors to meaningful learning and dialogue. In May, our Lunchtime Learning session on understanding physical and emotional responses to anxiety helped participants explore one of the most common yet least discussed aspects of the cancer experience.

In September, our 3rd Annual Prostate Cancer Awareness Breakfast brought together members of our Prostate Cancer Support Group and their partners to learn, connect, and honor Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. The event featured presentations on the latest testing and treatment options, as well as the genetic components of prostate cancer. Beyond education, the breakfast sparked conversation, deepened relationships, and offered a nurturing space for support and encouragement. 

Healthy Lifestyle Programs

Our Healthy Lifestyle Programs promote whole-person health, including mental and physical well-being. From Qigong and mindfulness meditation to nutrition and hands-on cooking classes, participants learn ways to reduce stress, build strength, and find joy through healthy living. This year, our wellness classes have continued to grow in both participation and impact. You can be a part of helping our community grow by donating to CSCCO today!

Our reintroduced Tai Chi program has been a remarkable success, helping participants improve balance, strength, flexibility, and functional movement, with adaptations that support seniors seeking stability and confidence. We also reimagined our Cooking for Wellness class to include shared meal preparation on-site and an extra serving to take home, encouraging healthy eating, fostering connection, and extending benefits beyond the kitchen.  

Social Gatherings 

Connection heals. Our Social Gatherings such as the annual Survivors Day Celebration, Brown Bag Book Club, and Drumming Circle offer opportunities for laughter, creativity, and belonging. This year’s “Give Cancer the Boot” Survivors Day was a joyful celebration of strength and community, filled with music, games, line dancing, mini ponies, axe throwing, cowboy hat decorating, a tribute flag station, and plenty of smiles. Our weekly Drumming Circle continues to be one of our most vibrant programs, fostering connection, encouragement, and joy through rhythm. Participants form a close-knit community that celebrates milestones, shares support, and often invite friends to join, creating a welcoming space where creativity and compassion thrive.  Every one of these social events and ongoing programs is provided at NO CHARGE to every participant. CSCCO can only keep these important programs going with support from everyday donors who recognize the important of community.

Care Coordination & Financial Assistance

Through our Empower Program, we provide essential wraparound support for low income individuals affected by cancer, addressing health disparities and connecting individuals with critical social services and medical care. With a strong focus on serving the Black community, families, and those experiencing poverty, Empower provides up to $2,000 annually for individuals at or below 350% of the federal poverty line to cover essential expenses like rent, utilities, and transportation. Every dollar helps, so please consider donating today!   

Participants are supported by our Community Health Workers, who help them navigate care, access resources, and feel fully supported throughout their journey. This year, we expanded our team by adding a second Community Health Worker, increasing our capacity to meet demand and deepen personal connections where it’s needed most. In April, our Health Equity Breakfast brought together medical professionals, community leaders, and advocates to foster dialogue on equitable access to care and strengthen partnerships across our community, reinforcing our shared commitment to ensuring no one faces cancer alone.  

Your Support Makes It Possible!
Every program, every class, every gathering, and every moment of guidance happens because of generous supporters like you. Together, we help individuals and families navigate cancer with knowledge, strength, and hope, providing emotional support, education, wellness, connection, and practical assistance when it’s needed most. Your generosity sustains the programs that bring comfort, connection, and encouragement to those navigating the cancer journey.

A gift today can make a real, tangible difference: 

$50 provides round-trip transportation for a participant to chemotherapy. 

$450 allows a participant to attend our Cooking for Wellness program for an entire year. 

$1,800 sustains a Caregiver Support Group for one year, giving those who care for others the guidance and community they need. 

As the year comes to a close, we are deeply grateful for your support and the hope it brings to individuals and families facing cancer. This holiday season, your generosity helps sustain vital programs that provide strength, guidance, and companionship to those who need it most. Together, we illuminate the power of community and prove that Community Is Stronger Than Cancer.