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History of LifeSpark

The Energy Partners program began in 2002 as a program of QuaLife Wellness Community, a Denver based non-profit organization. Called Healing Buddies, this program operated successfully at QuaLife for two years. In late 2004, QuaLife closed all operations, while continuing to provide legal non-profit status to Healing Buddies. In 2005, the leadership of the Healing Buddies program formed a new non-profit organization, called LifeSpark Cancer Resources, and on November 7, 2005, this organization was officially launched. The Healing Buddies program was then transferred to LifeSpark and renamed the Energy Partners program. On March 20, 2006 LifeSpark received its tax-exempt status from the IRS, and is now an independent non-profit organization.

History of Healing Buddies Program
(Healing Buddies is the original name used for this program)

Written by Anne Day, RN, MA, CMT, CHTP/I  March 2004

In the fall 1998, the idea for a service project which would offer Healing Touch to the community, was birthed in Hawaii.   The four Healing Touch Practitioners who met, decided to target women with newly diagnosed breast cancer.   The power of group intention and commitment began to enlist the support of universal energy.   The project was named, “Bosom Buddies” and an Advisory Council was formed.  

Hob Osterlund, the head of Pain Management at Queen’s Medical Center, carried the vision to that medical center, which agreed to support the project by providing early administrative support and the non-profit status that would allow for grant applications. The first Bosom Buddies training in Hawaii was in November of 1999, and the first recipient was given treatment in January of 2000.  

The program grew with great enthusiasm and was blessed with grants for support.   As with any new service project, many hours of volunteer time were lovingly donated to get the program “off the ground”.      As Director of Healing Touch Hawaii, and one of the visionaries at that first meeting in 1998, I cheered on the efforts of those important founders.     I also held the vision to bring that same service project to Denver.   I began to search for the right non-profit partner, trying to get a large non-profit hospital to join in the vision.   But, the doors weren’t opening as quickly as I had hoped.    

In the fall of 2001, I met Sandy Priester, who practiced both Healing Touch and Reiki, and was a key staff member at QuaLife Wellness Community.   I shared my vision with her and we instantly felt a connection and the sense that this was the right partnership for the Buddies program in Denver.   We enlisted the support of Healing Touch International, and Lisa Anselme, their Executive Director, enthusiastically joined our first Advisory Council.   After initial idea sessions, we invited Janet Mentgen, Healing Touch Program Director, Mary Maynard, a Certified Healing Touch Practitioner, Carole Lindroos, QuaLife Program Director, and Naomi Sullivan, QuaLife’s Executive Director to join us in planning.  

This birthing time again required vision, love and commitment, as we moved forward with our goal.   It was decided to expand the community of receivers in Denver to include those with “life-challenging illness”, and to offer Reiki as well as Healing Touch to the recipients.   Our vision thus was to encourage healing, harmony and balance for people with life-challenging illnesses by connecting them with trained Healing Touch and Reiki providers.  

After months of planning and meeting time, we had our first Ritual of Intention on May 3, 2002 at QuaLife Wellness Community with a circle of people committed to support and serve this vision.   The first training weekend for Buddies was Sept. 13-15, 2002, with nineteen HT and Reiki providers trained.   Seventeen participants were matched for service in the first year.   Sandy Priester become the Coordinator for the program, and monthly support meetings for providers were well attended and led by Carole Lindroos.   The second training weekend was held October 3-5, 2003, with fourteen providers trained.  

The training weekends received very high reviews from the participants, reporting deeper understanding of needed self-care, and knowledge and confidence in working with those with life-challenging illness.   Response for those receiving the sessions has been outstanding and the Buddies who have provided the healing sessions have told us they received immeasurable benefit as well.    

We anticipate continued expansion of this very valuable service program model around the country as this vision is shared with others.