VAIL Like nothing on earth.™

Pink Vail Pays it Forward

One-Day Event Helps Cancer Patients Survive and Thrive All Year Long

Two decades ago, Eagle County singer-songwriter, Pat Hamilton, lost a friend to breast cancer. Pat wrote a song about it, called “Waves of Sorrow,” focusing on the support group of women that surrounded, supported and took care of their friend in need.

Twenty years later, Pat was diagnosed with breast cancer herself. She had a lumpectomy, followed by radiation five days a week for a month. Pat says the treatment and recovery process at Shaw Cancer Center felt like being “wrapped up in a blanket of care.” The care she had once helped provide for a friend was now what she needed and was able to receive at Shaw.

Through the Spirit of Survival program, funded by Pink Vail, Pat and others have received comprehensive wellness that addresses each patient’s individual physical and emotional well-being, the impact of cancer on day-to-day life, as well as long-term health goals. The program incorporates fitness, nutrition and physical therapy, as well as a variety of support and wellness services, to empower survivors to thrive during and after treatment.

Each patient at Shaw meets with a team of doctors and staff members to develop an individualized program. The focus for Pat was on exercise and diet — both vital components in the prevention of her cancer’s reoccurrence. She worked with Shaw’s oncology exercise physiologists and nutritionist and was able to take advantage of gentle yoga, reiki, massage and Pilates offered at Jack’s Place, a cancer caring house located on-site at Shaw.

“It’s just an incredibly all-around supportive program for your emotional, physical and mental well-being,” says Pat. “I don’t think most people know what Pink Vail does and how it covers the cost of all these programs. Until you get cancer, or one or your friends gets cancer, you don’t realize what an incredible event Pink Vail truly is.”

ABOUT PINK VAIL

Pink Vail is the world’s biggest ski day to conquer cancer, but it’s not just a fun day on the mountain. Proceeds from the event benefit patient care and the Spirit of Survival program at Shaw Cancer Center, providing all patients the opportunity to receive free exercise training, nutrition coaching, emotional support, massages, acupuncture, outdoor adventures and much more. These unique services can dramatically impact a patient’s quality of life, but are not typically covered by insurance.

PINK VAIL IS ON SATURDAY, MARCH 24

·         Register or donate at pinkvail.com

·         Pink Vail Headquarters at Golden Peak

·         Costume contest, live music, kids zone, deck parties, incredible prizes and Celebration of Life ski down

·         Proceeds benefit patient care and the Spirit of Survival program at Shaw Cancer Center