NCSD at CFG!
Mr. Jay & Mr. Tim!
Photo submitted by Kathy Burch
NOTE FROM TIM: Thank you to Mr. Jay Christopher for creating this amazing and amazingly healing space and for sharing it with us on this day and over the many years!
WANDER the Wonderful Gardens!
It is actually a wonderful tribute to the CF&G that some who attended this year’s NCSD event didn’t participate in any of the planned activities! 😊 There is always so much to see and do! The natural and nurtured beauty of this location often is the “main event”! Here are a few photos submitted by those who "Wandered the Wonderful Gardens"! NOTE: I hope you will join us for any of the upcoming “ST&BF at the CF&G” outings. Watch the LCCU for details (and be sure you are on our POP UP-portunity e-mail list)!
Suggestion: Look back at Photo Pages from prior visits to CF&G for many more photos!
Guided Tour of the CF&G with Rob!
Rob, who is quite passionate about the CF&G (the property, the mission, and the natural surroundings) led an hour-long tour of the Gardens. As those of us who have visited this amazing placing know, an hour-long tour barely scratches the surface of this expansive property.
Photo submitted by Mary Schueller
Story Time at the Conservatory
Mary Schueller (above left), who has been involved in the planning of this NCSD Celebration of Life every year since 1992, shared a historical perspective of National Cancer Survivors Day. I (above right) have attended this event every year since 1993 as a survivor and the past 25 years have been involved planning this event along with Mary. That gives Mary and I a combined 65 years of NCSD celebrations! These past two years that have revolved around a carnival theme have been so special due to this unique location and vanue, the festive carnival games, and the amazing weather certainly hasn't hurt! We are considering a new theme for next year’s event, and if you have any suggestions, please let us know. So mark your calendar for Sunday, June 1st, 2025!
Story Time at the Conservatory
Mary commented that things often "come full circle" and she shared this black & white photo from her first NCSD event in 1993 (Mary can also be seen in the background). The photo depicts Dr. Matthews, who will be retiring at the end of this month, as he speaks to a group of cancer survivors just weeks before opening his private practice here in Sheboygan.
Welcoming Remarks – Erika
Erika Lusthoff, Executive Director of the Christopher Farm & Gardens, welcomed us to the CF&G for he fifth consecutive year and to our 81st ST&BF at the CF&G outing since our first visit in May of 2017! She began her comments by asking, “Why do you visit her?” Responses from those who have been fortunate enough to join us for any of our previous 80 visits included: Peaceful. Wonderful to be outside. Gorgeous. Always changing. Fun. And very healing.
Erika, noted that “cancer patients and survivors are in a high-stress state.” She spoke of several theories and the many benefits of nature-based healing and referenced a study that suggested “nature was identified as the most important resource for coping with cancer and promoting self-reflection and relaxation. This nature engagement through indirect, incidental, and intentional means has been shown to have a positive effect and is beneficial for relaxation, self-reflection, coping, and comfort, resulting in less fatigue, stress, anxiety, and depression while supporting a greater quality of life and spirituality. This is evidenced by the Stress Reduction
Erika aptly summed up, “Connection to community, connection to nature, and finding joy and humor are all the best drugs available as they effect how we experience life.”
Survivor: Diane Lengfeld
Diane was diagnosed with breast cancer in December of 2022. With no family history, she admits it was a shocking diagnosis but found a greater sense of calm knowing that there were experts that would help her beat this. Following surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. While undergoing occupational and physical therapy one of her therapists made her aware of the Energizing Flex & Flow class the Hannah Held was creating for SCCCF’s Survive, Thrive & Be Fit program as part of her Capstone Experience through Concordia University. Diane continued to exercise, even through treatment, and felt it was an easy decision to give it a try.
“The class offers aerobic and strengthening workout, which was different than what I was doing. It made me feel better. But what I didn’t expect was to have so much fun and meet so many people who were going through what I was going through at various stages. Some were long-term survivors, some were still going through treatment, and some like me were relatively new survivors. I hope to become one of the long-term survivors that I met through these classes. They are an inspiration! Everyone has their own story to tell, and I hope my story is just beginning!”
Survivor: Leah Heusterberg
One of those long-term survivors that Diane met at Energizing Flex & Flow is Leah Heusterberg. Leah was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013. She was one of an amazing group of nine women whom I had the privilege to accompany on a 3-day, 36-mile backpacking trip on the nearby Ice Age Trail in 2015 as part of a ST&BF Hiking Along the Cancer Journey outing. Along the way, we were interviewed by the crew of Outdoor Wisconsin during which Leah stated, “My goal is to come out of this stronger than I was to begin with. The idea of being self-contained, carrying our worldly goods on our backs, being in the outdoors... what a great way to connect with God and nature. Very healing. Very therapeutic.”
Leah has continued to be active in Survive, Thrive & Be Fit whenever her busy life allows, for her own benefit and to be a source of information and inspiration for others. Recently, in addition to attending Energizing Flex & Flow, Leah has been involved in Project Tweety B.I.R.D. (Bluebird Investigation, Rejuvenation, & Discovery) Bluebird, a collaborative effort between the Christopher Farm & Gardens and SCCCF and encourages others to get involved in any of the events and activities at the CF&G! For more details on Project Tweety B.I.R.D., contact Tim!
Survivor – Rick Roesch
After being hospitalized in June of 2014 for pancreatitis, which eventually led to surgery and the removal of 75% of pancreas a few months later in October, Rick was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Following a case of pancreatitis in June of 2014. Rick endured 18 rounds of chemotherapy and is grateful to have survived. “However,” Rick explains, “six months after my last chemotherapy it was discovered I had a stage 4 prostate cancer which metastacized to the bones in several areas and that is when I continue to deal with now.”
Rick discovered LIVESTRONG following his pancreatic cancer diagnosis, before moving to Sheboygan about four years later, and has continued to attend the LIVESTRONG at the Y program here in Sheboygan. He defines LIVESTRONG as “a free physical activity and wellness program for cancer survivors and a spouse or friend who helps them cope with cancer.” He recognized Carrie Green and Denice Nugent, who are involved in the local program which meets every Tuesday at 9A to exercise and connect and again on Saturdays at 9A for “a fun” boot camp.
In summary, Rick explained, “I think we would all agree that it is good to move your body to improve your health! If any part of your body moves, they’ll find a way to exercise it! That’s how good they are and that’s how much they care. Our motto is simply , ‘Do what you can!’”
Take A Ride on the Dairyland Express!
When I say there is a lot to do at CF&G, I mean it! Even a train ride! Just about every kid (big or small, young or old) loves a train ride! Click HERE to learn more about this fun attraction at CF&G!
Note: In the busy-ness of the day, I wasn't able to enjoy the train ride. This photo is from a previous visit!
Carnival Games
Before I share any photos or comments about the carnival games, I feel it is important to tell the story about how many of those games became the inspiration to a carnival-theme for the past two years. And that story begins with “Bob the Builder” Hartig! Many of you who have been involved in TLC and ST&BF know Bob the Builder, whose heart is bigger than he is tall! Bob, a skilled woodworker, loves “making sawdust” (as he often says) in his workshop and has created many items that are part of our activities. I think it started with the rubber band shooting guns that our Indoor Row Group uses to knock down Solo cups in our row/shoot biathlon, and that we used in one of our carnival games. In this photo are six additional games that Bob has designed and built for this or other activities in the Local Cancer Community! I challenge you to find and identify as many as you can and e-mail me your answers. For each correct answer I will put your name in for a drawing. And yes, I know this gives an advantage to those of you who regularly attend/participate in our events. I guess it is just one more benefit of being involved!!
Carnival Game: The Big Cheese!
Cancer survivor and carny Bob Hartig (wearing his mouse nose as the creator of "The Big Cheese" and many other carnival games of the day) interacts with Otto (now a year older after making the cover of Coping Magazine last year with his mom and dad at this event)!
Photo submitted by Mary Schueller
Christopher Transportation Museum Featuring The Circus Exhibit with Special Guest, Sonja Barta
Another unique, amazing, and interesting things at the CF&G is the Christopher Transportation Museum! And a special thank you to Sonja Barta, granddaughter of Pete Lindemann who was a founding member of the Seils-Sterling Circus of Sheboygan, pictured here with Jay Christopher! It was so enjoyable to listen to Sonja's experiences as a circus performer, enthusiast and historian! Check out this informative and entertaining 2022 presentation that Sonja offered at the Sheboygan Historical Museum:
Mary Beth & Tim "Clowning Around"!
Mary Beth & Tim "Clowning Around"! Thank you to DVFOTO for providing the photo booth for the day!
Carnival Clown: He's Got the Cutest Red Nose!!!
If we were recognizing the youngest and the cutest red nose... I think we have a winner in Pippin Darling, newest son to cancer survivor Rachel Darling and her husband Nate along with their son Otto who gave us THIS photo from last year that tens, if not hundreds of people viewed on the front cover of last year's Coping Magazine NCSD issue!
Photos submitted by Schueller!