Voices of Hope and The Cardinal Cafe

 Seven years ago, we saw a Facebook post from our dear friend Jordan Rich letting us know that he was going to be in a production of Love Letters at the North Shore Music Theater. The performances were to benefit Voices of Hope, an organization of ordinary people on an extraordinary mission; to use their voices to sing out for a cure for cancer. 

It is our mission to aid in the fight against cancer by raising our voices in song. Through song we celebrate those we love, remember those we have lost, honor those who fight, and rejoice for those who survive. With music as our voice, we raise awareness and funds to support those who conduct the research and create the hope of finding a cure for generations to come.

Since 2009, Voices of Hope (VOH) has donated $836,000 dollars to cancer research and is on a March to a Million in donations by 2022!

Through the years we attended performances of Voices of Hope supporting their mission and passion while enjoying live theater. Their performances are filled with heart and hope believing that one day they will be able to enjoy performing without the need to raise money for cancer research.

Greg Chastain, Founder and President of Voices of Hope, posted on LinkedIn about their new podcast. Since there could be no in person performances, Greg and Ed Siegel, Vice President of Voices of Hope decided to start a podcast called The Cardinal Cafe. The cardinal is an animal totem for messages from loved ones who have gone before. The cardinal is the central part of the logo for Voices of Hope.

I reached out to Greg sharing my story and my recent book, "Hope is a Garden: Poems and Essays From the 2020 Pandemic" and asked to be considered as a guest on the podcast. I was eager to share my book with Greg, Ed and his wife Dana because I knew its themes would resonate with them regardless of whether or not they decided to have me join them as a guest.

They decided that my story of resilience, healing, HOPE and possibilities would be a great fit for their podcast.

We recorded the episode yesterday, 5/25, coincidentally the 14th anniversary of when I took a leap of faith and left my award winning career as a VA social worker to heal my life from the once devastating effects of childhood paralytic polio and trauma.

Serendipity, synchronicity, faith, friendship, fellowship, laughter, hope, and love flowed freely weaving a beautiful tapestry of conversation that will inspire and uplift the listeners and fill them with a sense of hope whatever challenges life may bring.

I feel deeply blessed and grateful that I celebrated my leap of faith-iversary with Greg, Ed and The Cardinal Cafe.

Be sure to subscribe to their podcast on your favorite platform and listen to their previous episodes.

On July 22nd they are having their annual Golf Tournament in memory of Greg's mom, Barbara Byrd who died from cancer in 2009. She is the inspiration behind Voices of Hope. Visit their website and click on the Events link to learn more about how you can be a part of this annual event as we emerge from these past 14 months ready to hug and have fun again!

You can choose Voices of Hope as your Amazon Smile Charity and give while you shop.

At the end of yesterday's blog post I said, "I'm so excited to see what the next 14 years bring." It's off to an incredible start with Voices of Hope and The Cardinal Cafe.

Be sure to check out my website's News and Events page for upcoming and past interviews where I share my remarkable and inspirational journey as a survivor of paralytic polio and trauma.

From my heart to yours
In health and wellness
Mary

For more information about my journey from childhood polio and trauma to the finish line of the 2009 Boston Marathon and beyond, visit my website. 

My books to inspire and uplift you are available on Amazon.