A New Era for Healing Odyssey

Dear Healing Odyssey Community,

In the midst of an exciting year, we want to update all of you, our treasured retreat grads and program supporters, on what lies ahead for Healing Odyssey.

First, we are actively planning a retreat for fall: September 19-21, 2025, at Pali Retreat Center in Running Springs, California. Please extend an invitation to anyone you think might be interested in attending or is in a position to reach out to women who would benefit from support in coping with their cancer diagnosis, no matter where in that process. You are welcome to share this flyer or direct anyone to our registration webpage.

September’s retreat marks an important new chapter for Healing Odyssey. As you all hopefully know, much of the leadership team that has kept this amazing organization going for 30 years is now enjoying extra free time in retirement. Currently, the Board of Directors is comprised of:

• Lissa Jordon, Executive Director – Retreat 55 grad, lissaj@healingodyssey.org
• Vanessa Vanacor, Treasurer – Retreat 59 grad, vanessav@healingodyssey.org
• Donna Negrete, Secretary – Retreat 7 grad, donnan@healingodyssey.org
• Barbara Stamp, Retreat Registrar – Retreat 16 grad, barbaras@healingodyssey.org
• Flory Aguilar – Retreat 57 grad, florya@healingodyssey.org
• Tonya Suggs, Retreat yoga instructor – Retreat 48 grad, tonyas@healingodyssey.org

We are staying in touch with the past Board in keeping with Healing Odyssey’s long tradition of nurturing friendships, and one of our founders, Donna Farris, was recently voted in as Advisor to the Board. We are grateful to continue to benefit from her decades of experience in advancing Healing Odyssey’s mission.

There are many opportunities to support our efforts if you or anyone you know would like to contribute:

• On the Board, we need help with fundraising, grant writing, social media, cancer community outreach, and business advising.
• We also welcome any referrals related to a key objective: finding oncology professionals to help lead our retreat programs. We need experienced nurses and mental health professionals who want to share their talents with women managing the challenges of cancer survivorship. Healing Odyssey retreats have been led by seasoned professionals in the oncology world since 1994, and the new leadership team is dedicated to nurturing this important distinction.
• Additionally, we are actively working to develop relationships with new corporate partners. If you have contacts within industries whose objectives would be in sync with Healing Odyssey’s mission (e.g., outdoor, women’s personal care, healthcare, pharmaceutical, or biotechnology,) we’d love to hear from you.

With our new team, all of our operations are now in different locations, and we want to make sure you know how to best stay in touch with us. Please note our new address and phone number, in addition to our new individual email addresses listed above:

• info@healingodyssey.org
• 711 Center Drive, Suite 105-261, San Marcos, CA 92069
• (760) 209-ODYS (6397)

We look forward to staying connected in the new era ahead. Healing Odyssey has made a tremendous impact in its first 30 years, and we are laying the foundation for more success in the next three decades. We are grateful for your support, past and future.

Sincerely,

Lissa Jordon and the Healing Odyssey Board of Directors

Healing Odyssey Inc. is a California-based nonprofit organization founded in 1994 with a mission to empower women after a cancer diagnosis. EIN 35-2533287

Retreat flyer link: Healing Odyssey September 2025 Retreat