Living Journeys

  CELEBRATE | SUPPORT | REMEMBER 

Living Journeys stands beside cancer patients and families, offering free, client centered programs like therapy sessions, financial aid, transportation services, meals, and enrichment programs — ensuring that no one faces cancer alone. Celebrating 25 years in the Gunnison Valley, we extend our deepest gratitude to our community for making this possible.

2024 IMPACTS

TESTIMONIALS

“When you donate to Living Journeys, you’re helping out your neighbor. You’re helping your friends. You’re helping people like me.”  – A Living Journeys Client.

“It is always hard to ask for help. Living Journeys came to my aid and helped me with day to day living expenses and my prescriptions.  Their grant eased the pressure of making ends meet. Cancer is stressful enough and it allowed me to work part time and keep my job, focus on my art, be with my family, and get myself back on my game. I can't thank them enough. Living Journeys helped take the edge off of my life.” – A Living Journeys Client 

“The amount of love from the Living Journeys community was something I did not expect and will never forget. The way that Living Journeys stepped in to help support my family was incredible….Going through these tough times was not something I anticipated but I can’t imagine doing this without Living Journeys. I can not thank them enough.” – A Living Journeys Client 

“Living Journeys helped me pay my high monthly insurance premiums and travel for treatment. They truly understood where I was coming from.” – A Living Journeys Client

“While our healthcare system has its flaws, organizations like Living Journeys are incredible. They support our small mountain community and help anyone facing a cancer diagnosis. If you [have] a little more, please consider giving a little more. Your generosity means the world.”  – A Living Journeys Supporter

HOW YOUR DONATION HELPS

BACKGROUND STATEMENT

In 2000, Mary Mike Haley, Dana Zobs, and Cheryl Ryan founded Living Journeys after Dana introduced the Breast Cancer Fund’s “Peak Hike” (an organization and event that originated in San Francisco, California) to Mt. Crested Butte in 1999. The event's success in raising funds for breast cancer advocacy, prompted the Breast Cancer Fund (BCF) to direct part of the funds back to the local community, which helped create Living Journeys. At that time, there were no non – profit organizations in the valley which focused on cancer support. 

Mary Mike Haley (co-founder of Living Journeys) became the primary therapist for the group, and while the BCF contributed to both support groups and research, they could not fund individual needs. During this time, Mary Mike realized the financial strain cancer patients faced and began to address this need by partnering with Dana Zobbs (co-founder of Living Journeys) who left for a new job in California. Together they continued the hike, now known as the Summit Hike, with initial funding from BCF. Alice Arnold (co-founder of Living Journeys) supported the organization in helping it receive its’ 501(c)(3) status, and helped create the first Board of Directors. 

The mission and need for the organization was clear: to provide both emotional and financial support to individuals, regardless of cancer type, especially as more individuals and families fighting cancer in the Gunnison Valley continued to face severe financial strain due to medical bills, compounded by loss of income due to the inability to work. This led to the creation of Living Journeys' grant program, which offers financial assistance to those in need. Today, Living Journeys continues to offer both emotional support and financial relief, helping patients manage the psychological impact of their diagnosis while improving their quality of life and potentially enhancing treatment outcomes.