Skip to content
  1. Home
  2. Why We Exist
  3. Our Impact

Our Impact

Our mission is to provide a comprehensive range of support, resources and programs so anyone living with cancer and the people who care about them can improve the quality of their lives.  We cannot do this alone. We need your help — so no one has to face cancer alone.

“Wellspring was like going to school. I learned so much about myself, about this disease, about life."
Rhonda Anderson
Wellspring member
0
People living with cancer who we supported in 2022
0
Communities throughout Alberta that had members participate in Wellspring programs in 2022
After participating in our 2022 programs, Wellspring members agreed or strongly agreed that they:

94%

feel less isolated

Feeling socially isolated is associated with a 26-50% increased risk of mortality.[1]

93%

said the program helped to improve their mental health and wellbeing 

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the quality of life for those living with cancer.

99%

would recommend Wellspring 

"Wellspring is a great place to 'belong' to. It was recommended to me and I have recommended it to others." - Wellspring member

Our Pandemic Story

Created additional barriers

COVID has created further disruptions, barriers and chaos in all aspects of life for those living with cancer.

Cancer is not cancelled

20% fewer cancer diagnosis in Alberta

This suggests 500 people/month are living with a cancer they don't know about [2] . Until our health system can catch up, interruptions could have a significant impact on long-term cancer outcomes.

Despite a global pandemic, Wellspring was able to pivot to online programming within 3 days of centres closing. Since then, we have continued to provide a community of support for those living with cancer, supporting more people from more communities throughout Alberta than ever before.

"We started out going to Wellspring Randy O’Dell location in person to take this course but was switched to Zoom meetings. This switch was seamless. The online Zoom meetings we still had the personal connections & I could feel the energy from each one of us talking to each other & still being able to see each other’s face, felt like we were still all sitting by each other."
Shelley Harley
Wellspring Member
"Cancer has been one of the most difficult things I have ever been through, but being able to participate in Wellspring's programs has been profoundly important. They have helped me find my way through the impossible days and allowed me to celebrate the good days since my diagnosis last summer. Wellspring is a community I hope to be part of for many more years."
Kate
Wellspring Member
Our members, their families and the broader community choose which programs they take and how many times they want to take them. We're here to provide what works best for you.

Wellspring Member Stories

At Wellspring Alberta our members sometimes share a bit about their cancer experience and tell us how Wellspring impacts their lives. 

Bev Old: a cancer road less travelled

Miranda Walker: finding support through Cancer Connect in Lethbridge

Cynthia Levagood: discovering strength in community

Pat Murray: Wellspring member, volunteer, program leader and donor

« Prev1234567Next »

[1] Holt-Lunstad, J., Smith, T. B., Baker, M., Harris, T., & Stephenson, D. (2015). Loneliness and Social Isolation as Risk Factors for Mortality: A Meta-Analytic Review. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 10(2), 227–237. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691614568352
Holt-Lunstad J, Smith TB, Layton JB (2010) Social Relationships and Mortality Risk: A Meta-analytic Review. PLoS Med 7(7): e1000316. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000316

[2] Cancer Care Alberta, Cancer Strategic Clinical Network and in partnership with Primary Care: https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/info/Page17277.aspx