McCarthy Recognized as Volunteer of Year

Event honors donors and volunteers .
(Arvada, C.O. June 14, 2009) Felicia McCarthy was recognized as Volunteer of the Year at LifeSpark’s second annual "Day of Gratitude". Held Sunday, June 14 at King of Glory Lutheran Church in Arvada, this event honored the persons, foundations, and businesses that have supported LifeSpark over the past year. McCarthy was recognized for providing more than 80 session hours of energy therapies to cancer participants, as well as 37 hours offering education and mini-sessions to the public.

LifeSpark Cancer Resources (www.LifeSparkNoworg) is a non-profit organization that supports people with cancer who are undergoing cancer treatment. The organization utilizes Reiki and Healing Touch, two complementary energy therapies that have been shown to be effective in reducing side-effects of treatment while promoting peace and well-being.

Recognition was extended to volunteers, providers of sessions, host sites, and donors of funds, goods, and services. Over the past 6 years LifeSpark provided sessions to 330 cancer patients, with over 3,668 hours of direct service to them.  Providers currently serve at 5 locations in the Metro Denver area. Included are: Boulder Foothills Hospital/Tebo Cancer Center, Denver Health Medical Center, Green Mountain United Methodist Church (Lakewood), St. Barnabas Episcopal Church (Denver), and Atonement Lutheran Church (Boulder). All Reiki and Healing Touch providers are volunteers and have met minimum training and experience levels while also completing an 18 hour LifeSpark training seminar.

Volunteer energy therapy providers that were honored (over 20 hours of sessions) included: Melinda Anderson, Pat Arch, Marilyn Braniff, Tracey Cox, Brenda Fister, Carrie Niewenhous, Bob O”Connell, Nancy Partridge, Chris Pfaffmann, Dory Pinkham, Sandy Priester, Shelley Poland, Rosemary Sleevi, and Trudy Wayne. Major donors attending the event included the Cancer League of Colorado represented by Annette Jewell. John and Virginia Anderson, Edward Muhr, Carrie Niewenhous, and Bob Priester. Individuals representing the facilities where sessions are offered were also honored.

Food was provided by Grand Hyatt Denver, and prepared by Chef Chris Tait.  Music was provided by Robin Maynard, singer/song writer, who performed several original songs. Speaker, Carol Hunter conveyed how LifeSpark nurtured and cared for her during her journey through breast cancer. John Anderson shared how donating to LifeSpark was a natural extension of his commitment to the organization, and Dory Pinkham spoke about the profound learning and joy that she has experiences as a volunteer Provider.

For more information about LifeSpark Cancer Resources, call 303-425-5670 or visit www.LifeSparkNow.org. Contact Sandy Priester, 303-425-5670.
# # # # #

Photos