September 2025 News

Dear CanCare Family,  

As we turn the page from summer to fall, I’m reminded how each season brings its own unique beauty and rhythm. The crisp air, changing leaves, and shorter days invite us to slow down, reflect, and embrace renewal.  

At CanCare, this season of change is a meaningful reminder of the strength and resilience within our community. Just as nature transitions, so too do the individuals and families we serve—navigating new challenges, discovering new sources of hope, and leaning on the care and compassion that you, our volunteers and donors, so generously provide.

To our volunteers: thank you for continuing to be a steady source of comfort and understanding. To our clients: know that you are never alone on this journey. And to our donors: your support allows CanCare to remain a beacon of hope and encouragement for so many.

As we welcome fall, may we carry forward the warmth of community and the assurance that together, we can bring light to even the darkest seasons.

With gratitude,

Darcie  Champagne Wells

President and  CEO, CanCare Caregiver Volunteer

“Every step forward, no matter how small, was a victory worth  celebrating.”  

In 2016, Lenlee’s life changed in a single moment. A biopsy she was told was “unlikely to be cancer” came back with one life-altering word: malignant. The days that followed were overwhelming—filled with fear, tough decisions, and even the added stress of navigating health insurance challenges.  

But Lenlee wasn’t alone. Surrounded by her family and supported by her CanCare volunteer, Beth, she found the strength to take each day one step at a time. Beth’s  words of encouragement became daily reminders that Lenlee was not facing this battle by herself.

Through meditation, exercise, and the unwavering love of her support system, she learned to celebrate even the smallest victories. .  

Today, Lenlee has come full circle—she now serves as a CanCare volunteer, offering the same compassion and encouragement that carried her through her darkest moments. By walking alongside other cancer survivors, she embodies the hope, resilience, and community that define the CanCare mission.

For a deeper look into Lenlee’s journey and the hope she discovered, we encourage you to read Hope  in the Face of Cancer. Her story—and so many others—shine a light on the incredible strength found in community.

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We recently welcomed CanCare Volunteer Class 130 to our family, training 17 volunteers from Texas, Florida, California, Michigan, Tennessee, Rhode Island, Colorado,  and New York.  

Some members of this class have already been matched with clients, offering hope, encouragement, and strength to survivors and their loved ones.‍

This milestone also brings us more than halfway to reaching our 2025 goal of training 100 volunteers who will provide one-on-one emotional support to cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers. Each new class represents more hearts joining our mission to ensure no one has to face cancer alone.  

If you are interested in our volunteer opportunities, you can  learn more at our upcoming Virtual Coffee and Information Session on Wednesday, September 24, at 2pm Central. We’d love for you to join us!

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Dr. Katy Rezvani, world-renowned physician-scientist at MD Anderson Cancer Center, is pioneering groundbreaking cell therapy research that is transforming how we approach cancer and bringing hope to patients who have exhausted conventional options.  

With warmth and compassion, Dr. Rezvani shares her journey from childhood dreams of curing cancer to leading innovations in CAR NK and CAR-T therapies. Through patient success stories and reflections on the challenges of advancing new treatments, she offers a glimpse into the brighter future her work is creating for patients and  families worldwide.

This inspiring conversation is equal parts science and soul—a reminder that at the heart of every medical  breakthrough is the hope of changing lives.

Don’t Miss an Episode! Subscribe now and be the first to know when new episodes are released!

Listen now on your favorite podcast platform! 

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Join us for the 32nd  Annual CanCare Golf Classic & ParTee on Monday, October 20, 2025 at Memorial Park Golf Course!  

We’re thrilled to have Julie Cotuno leading the way as this year’s Event Chair and to honor Owen Daniels, former Houston Texans star.

The tournament will be followed by our onsite ParTee Celebration, featuring: Tournament awards, Honoree recognition, Live & silent auctions, and an Exclusive Raffle

This event will sell out— secure your team or sponsorship today!
 

Questions? Email events@cancare.org

Special thanks to our Honorary Chairs: Michael Wiesenthal, Johnny Carrabba, Charlie Epps, Titus Harris III, Cullen Kappler, and Jeff Zinn.

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