A group of women is showing others what its like to deal with breast cancer, in an emotional and uplifting musical journey.
By Roxanne Werly
Thursday, October 16, 2008 at 8:37 a.m.
A group of women is showing others what its like to deal with breast cancer, in an emotional and uplifting musical journey. The trillium singers are holding a fundraising concert called "You'll Never Walk Alone." It's a musical journey of what women go through when diagnosed with breast cancer.
"Where I live is a musical portrayal of a woman's journey through breast cancer from the time she gets the first phone call to the time that its all over an she says ok how do i fit into this world now," Explains choir director Candice Wallace.
It's a message Susan Calkins, a member of the choir and ten year breast cancer survivor, can relate to. "It's extremely realistic its almost hard to sing at times because your constantly making it personal and taking it back to your own self so it really is a story of what a women goes through."
Money raised from the event will benefit the Navigator Program, a volunteer run program through Munson Medical Center. The Navigator Program partners breast cancer survivors with women newly diagnosed with the disease. It's a program Calkins says was invaluable to her. "They talked to be about recovery they showed me recovery," Calkins explains. "They sing about don't tell me who died and that's exactly what I didn't want to know. I didn't want to hear about that. The Navigator Program talked to me about all the recovery of other people and that really gave me hope and I was able to make it through." While just a handful of the singers experienced breast cancer first hand, other members of the choir say the music is emotional for them as well. "The first time we sang some of the songs they were in tears a lot of us were in tears because it's very moving," Says Wallace. Janet Diehl, a fellow choir member agrees. "This is for not only survivors but everybody out there who would enjoy learning and being educated. This is for everybody out there to come and enjoy, to learn, and to shed a few tears probably too."
"You'll Never Walk Alone" takes place November 1 at 8:00 PM. The concert will be held at Central United Methodist Church in Traverse City. Tickets cost $20, with all proceeds supporting the Munson Navigator Program. You can buy tickets at Horizon Books, Kay's, Cherry Republic, Diversions, T.C. Visitor's Bureau, Central United Methodist Church, Munson Medical Center's Gift Shop, or any choir member.
