Earlier this year, we invited women affected by breast cancer to help us shape a recovery retreat grounded in their real experiences and needs.
Twenty-five women generously shared what they would value most, the practical barriers that could prevent them from attending and what would help them feel supported during a weekend away. Their feedback has directly shaped our inaugural Restore & Reclaim Breast Cancer Recovery Retreat.
With funding from Westfund Health Insurance and a new partnership with The Otis Foundation, seven women will be able to attend the two-night retreat at Women’s Healing Sanctuary fully funded.
Removing the Biggest Barrier
The message from our survey was clear: cost was the greatest barrier to attending a recovery retreat.
Three out of every four respondents identified affordability as a concern—well ahead of travel, time commitments or health limitations.
This reinforced something we already see through our work at the Sanctuary: women often recognise that they need time to rest and recover, but the financial realities of life during and after treatment can make it difficult to prioritise their own wellbeing.
If Restore & Reclaim was going to reach women who could genuinely benefit from it, affordability needed to sit at the heart of how the retreat was delivered.
You can explore the full findings, including what women told us they would value most from a recovery weekend, in our Restore & Reclaim Survey Insights Report.
A Partnership Making This Retreat Possible
Funding from Westfund Health Insurance has allowed us to bring the first Restore & Reclaim retreat to life, while our partnership with The Otis Foundation will help ensure the fully funded places reach women who would benefit from this support.
Seven women applying through The Otis Foundation will be invited to spend two nights at Women’s Healing Sanctuary this October, with their accommodation, nourishing meals and all retreat activities included.
This partnership creates an immediate opportunity for seven women to access rest and support without the barrier of cost. It also marks the beginning of what we hope will become an ongoing relationship with The Otis Foundation, allowing more women affected by breast cancer to experience the Sanctuary in the future.
Shaped by Women’s Experiences
Rest and connection, two of the things women told us mattered most, will sit at the centre of the Restore & Reclaim weekend.
The program will offer a gentle balance of supportive sessions and unstructured time, giving each woman the freedom to participate in a way that feels right for her. There will be opportunities to connect with others who understand, alongside time to rest, reflect and simply be looked after.
Most importantly, this first retreat will be offered at no cost to the women attending.
A Pilot with the Potential to Grow
Restore & Reclaim will begin as a pilot program, allowing us to listen, learn and refine the experience before offering future retreats.
As with all stays at Women’s Healing Sanctuary, the retreat will be limited to seven women. Keeping our groups small helps create the calm, nurturing and personal environment that makes the Sanctuary so special, and this will remain an important part of the program as it grows.
The experiences shared through our survey will continue to guide Restore & Reclaim well beyond the first weekend, helping us build a program that responds to what women need during recovery.
Thank You to the Women Who Shared
As a thank-you, everyone who completed the survey went into the draw to win a two-night personal stay at Women’s Healing Sanctuary. Our winner has now been randomly selected and contacted directly —Congratulations!
To every woman who took the time to share her experience with us: thank you. Your honesty has helped us create a retreat shaped not by assumptions, but by the voices of women who understand this experience firsthand.
Interested in the Restore & Reclaim Retreat?
If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer and would like to be considered for Restore & Reclaim in October at Women’s Healing Sanctuary, please visit The Otis Foundation’s Stay With Us page to learn more about eligibility and the application process.
When contacting The Otis Foundation, please mention that you are interested in the Restore & Reclaim Breast Cancer Recovery Retreat at Women’s Healing Sanctuary.
We look forward to welcoming our first Restore & Reclaim guests this October and to creating more opportunities for women to rest, reconnect and feel supported during recovery.
