Canadian Cancer Society and Great Excursions launch Journey for Life partnership

May 2, 2010

Cruise vacation in Mexico includes workshops and excursions designed for people and families who have had a cancer experience.

SASKATOON – The Great Excursions Company and the Canadian Cancer Society announce a new partnership to offer an innovative and meaningful travel experience for people who have been through an experience with cancer. The Journey for Life partnership will be unveiled at 10am on Sunday at the Society’s provincial Living with Cancer Conference at TCU Place in Saskatoon.

“People who have had cancer have told us that the connection between cancer survivors and among family members who have been in a caregiver role is special,” said Keith Karasin, Executive Director for the Canadian Cancer Society. “Survivors have also told us that it is good to spend time with others who have been through a similar experience. Even when time has passed after cancer treatment, survivors and caregivers tell us that it isn’t always easy to slip back into life exactly as it was before the diagnosis. The workshops offered during this vacation are designed to help both survivors and their family caregivers make the transition back to everyday life while living every day to its fullest.”

The 10-day vacation package named Journey for Life features a Mexican Riviera cruise scheduled to depart from San Diego on February 12, 2011 on board the MS Oosterdam, a Holland America ship. The cruise visits Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas before returning to San Diego. The journey is all about fun, discovery and personal transformations” said Claude-Jean Harel, Founder and Manager of The Great Excursions Company. “Together we developed a rich program with workshops during the days at sea geared to cancer survivors and their caregivers. When in port, Journey for Life participants will go on experiential group activities, including whale watching and zip lining, for those brave enough to fly through the forest canopy.”

This package holiday is offered by Great Excursions (A division of CAA Saskatchewan). A portion of the proceeds from each tour package sold will go to the Canadian Cancer Society. The Society is providing the educational and cancer-related content, with hosts Kelly Walker and Wendy McDermid.

Details about Journey for Life, including the sessions and itinerary, information about the cruise ship, pricing, and travel and health insurance for people who have experienced cancer, can be found at www.journeyforlife.ca, or at www.greatexcursions.travel. For registration inquiries, please call Great Excursions toll-free at 1-866-975-8687.

Media contacts:

Claude-Jean Harel
Great Excursions
Phone: (306) 791-4335
Cell: (306) 539-8135

Keith Karasin
Canadian Cancer Society
Phone: (306) 790-5810
Cell: (306) 536-1808

Claude-Jean Harel and Keith Karasin will be on site at the Living with Cancer Conference on Sunday at 10am and will be available for media interviews shortly before the launch and afterward.

Background:

The Canadian Cancer Society is a national organization of volunteers whose mission is eradicating cancer and improving the quality of life of people living with cancer. The Society’s roots start in Saskatchewan more than 70 years ago. www.cancer.ca/sk

Great Excursions is a boutique travel and destination management company which develops and offers Canadian and international leisure and business travel experiences that make a difference around the world, since 1998. In 2008 Great Excursions became a division of CAA Saskatchewan. www.greatexcursions.travel

Kelly Walker is a professional speaker, musician, author and friend of the Canadian Cancer Society. He is one of Canada’s best known experts on the human dimensions of transition and change, and is able to touch the hearts and minds of participants using storytelling, music, information and humour.

Wendy McDermid is a consummate facilitator and presenter. A retired member of the Canadian Cancer Society staff, Wendy was instrumental in creating many Saskatchewan initiatives to support people experiencing cancer that are now offered by the Society across Canada. She now splits her time between Saskatchewan and Huatulco, Mexico.