Mission

Forest Moon’s mission is to improve the quality of life for cancer survivors and their families and friends in New England.  Interactive programs in home-like settings introduce therapeutic activities and foster group learning and revelation.  Forest Moon’s goals are to reduce the anxiety burdening the cancer community and to cultivate within each individual a greater sense of control, enhanced well-being and renewed purpose.

Erika and Priscilla sharing a laugh at the 2004 Celebration

Background

Cancer affects tens of thousands of families in the New England region – the co-founders of Forest Moon included. Cindy and Phil Blood contended with Cindy’s breast cancer diagnosis at age 29 and her father’s passing from cancer when he was 60. As their family faced the challenges accompanying a cancer diagnosis, they noticed a void in how the medical community addressed the emotional needs of survivors and their families in rural Vermont and New Hampshire. They found little support offered to rebuild physical, mental, and spiritual strength. Unique needs accompany survivorship, yet families contending with an uncertain future may receive little guidance.

Cindy and Phil on top of Cardigan Mountain

Our Approach

Starting in January of 2006, Forest Moon began offering full-day and overnight retreats free of cost in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Western Massachusetts. Upon completion of their 4,000 square-foot Healing Haven retreat center in southern Vermont, Forest Moon will host retreats at their own homestead. Eight to twenty individuals attend a retreat at a time, providing an intimate atmosphere where strong connections can be developed. Participants engage in a variety of evidence-based therapeutic activities aimed at improving their quality of life.

Some of these activities might include:

• Mindfulness, meditation, guided imagery
• Creative exploration (art, woodworking, crafts)
• Expressive and creative writing
• Nutritious cooking and gardening
• Physical fitness (hiking, biking, walking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing)
• Group challenges
• Gentle movement (Yoga, Tai Chi, Qi Gong)
• Healing touches (massage, Reike, reflexology)
• Dance
• Dialogue exercises
• Music
• Reconnecting with natural world

Using an experiential approach, Forest Moon’s participants acquire new strategies to help reduce the stress accompanying survivorship and to increase their sense of hope and control over their circumstances.  Forest Moon encourages each cancer survivor to bring a family member or friend to each retreat.

After reflecting on the various activities offered during an overnight retreat, participants develop individual “Wellness Plans” outlining the activities they will attempt to practice regularly at home. Following each retreat, an established support system will encourage each individual to achieve his/her “Wellness Plan” goals. A follow-up survey, conducted six months after each retreat, will assess how the “Wellness Plan” implementation impacted the quality of life for each participant.

Retreats will initially be offered once a month, servicing over 100 people annually. Each year, additional programs will be offered, expanding the number of annual participants. Forest Moon strives to enroll 50% of its participants from underserved rural communities in Vermont and surrounding states.

Board of Directors

Cynthia J. Blood, President & Co-founder

Cindy, completing her undergraduate work at The University of Vermont and her MEd at The University of New Hampshire, voluntarily manages the affairs of Forest Moon Inc. on a full-time basis. She is a breast cancer survivor and lost her father to cancer. Having most recently served as Director of Studies at Cardigan Mountain School in New Hampshire, she has experience with curriculum development and education and serves on all six of the organization’s committees. Having grown up in Vermont, Cindy retains strong ties in the state, including her family who still live in Brattleboro. She lives in a Deerfield Academy dormitory with her husband and sixteen “adopted” children. Cindy enjoys hiking with her dog Boo, 4-season backpacking, biking, and laughing with friends.

Steve Scott, J.D., Vice President & Secretary

After graduating from Cornell Law School, Steve served for seven years as Associate in the Corporate Department and Retail Financial Services Group at Pierce Atwood, Northern New England’s largest law firm. He currently is Counsel for the Corporate Law Department at The First Marblehead Corporation in Boston, MA. A practicing attorney, Steve will provide sound legal advice to all of Forest Moon’s committees. Residing in upstate New York with his wife and two young children, and having lived in Woodsville, New Hampshire, Steve shares Forest Moon’s passion for helping the underserved rural populations of New England. He enjoys gardening, cooking, fitness, and following college sports (especially his almamater Boston College).

Charles Iacovou, PhD, Treasurer

Charles is a business professor at Wake Forest University and formerly was a faculty member at Georgetown University. He brings expertise in the areas of business management and technology. Charles created Forest Moon’s web site and currently serves as webmaster on a volunteer basis. He chairs the Finance Committee and is a member of the Marketing/PR Committee. Charles completed his undergraduate work at the University of Vermont and his doctoral studies at the University of British Columbia. He lives in North Carolina with his wife and frequently returns to New England to visit friends. Charles enjoys traveling and returns home to visit family in Cyprus regularly.

Phillip T. Blood, Co-founder

Phil volunteers for Forest Moon on a part-time basis, serves as chair of the organization’s Building Committee, and is a member of the Long Range Strategic Planning Committee. Completing his undergraduate work at Northeastern University and his graduate work in Ecology and Education at The University of New Hampshire, Phil currently works in the admissions office at Deerfield Academy. He also serves as a caregiver to his wife Cindy, who is a breast cancer survivor. He is an experienced education administrator, teacher, and group facilitator. He lives in a dormitory at Deerfield Academy with his wife and yellow lab, Boo. Phil enjoys hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, and backpacking with his wife and students from the Deerfield Outdoor Club.

Susan Bauer-Wu, PhD, R.N.

Susan has extensive experience leading healing and renewal programs for cancer patients and families and is co-founder of Retreats To Renew. Susan’s clinical experience in nursing (medical and breast oncology, psychiatry, and hospice) provided the foundation for her doctoral and post-doctoral work in psychoneuroimmunology and psycho-oncology. She previously conducting quality of life and integrative therapies research (funded by the National Institutes of Health) at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, where she was the Director of the Cantor Center for Research in Nursing and Patient Care Services and Instructor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School. Currently, Susan is an Associate Professor at Emory University in Atlanta and Distinguished Cancer Scholar for the Georgia Cancer Coalition.  Susan has had strong roots to rural Vermont since childhood, where her family still lives; she is deeply committed to sharing her knowledge and providing service to cancer patients and families from rural communities throughout New England. She will serve on the Program Committee and also facilitate retreats. Susan resides in Brookline, Massachusetts with her family.

Phil Edelstein

A graduate of the University of Connecticut, Mr. Edelstein has held management and technical positions in the industrial recycling and environmental industries for 25 years and has served on the board of several community organizations providing guidance on environmental issues and water supply management.  Phil and his family recently converted their summer cabin in Whitingham, VT to an “off-the-grid”, year round home.  He was recently treated for possible skin lymphoma.

Jeffrey J. Hogan

A graduate of Clark University, Jeff has extensive professional experience in finance as well as volunteer experience on other nonprofit boards. He currently is Regional Sales Manager for Rogers Benefit Group in Farmington, Connecticut and serves as an insurance consultant in the health care industry. As a member of the Fundraising Committee and the Marketing/PR Committee, he will help the organization meets its fundraising goals. An avid hiker and frequent visitor to the mountains of rural northern New England, Jeff feels a deep commitment to help populations living in these regions. He is an active volunteer for the Appalachian Mountain Club and Farmington Fire Department. Jeff also keeps busy, along with his wife, following his son and daughter in their numerous athletic pursuits.

Augustus G. Means III

Angus has an MBA from Boston University and attended Tufts and St. Mark’s School. He has extensive experience in education, currently teaching math at Buckingham Browne & Nichols School. Gus has been profoundly affected by cancer, having lost both parents to the disease. He serves as chair of the Long Range Strategic Planning Committee and is a member of the Building Committee. Gus owns property in rural New Hampshire and is committed to providing rural populations with critical cancer support services. He enjoys coaching hockey, landscaping projects, and spending time with his two young children.

Nora Yasumura

Serving at chair of the Program Committee, Nora has a Masters in Social Work from the New York University School of Social Work and attended the University of Vermont. Forest Moon will benefit from her experience with individual, group, and family therapy. Her background also includes planning and hosting events and retreats. Currently the Assistant Dean of Student Life and Advisor to Asian and Asian American Students at Dartmouth College, Nora has developed many connections with the communities in the Upper Valley and is passionate about helping this population of survivors. She resides in a dormitory at Cardigan Mountain School with her husband, daughter, and dog, Jasper. Nora and her husband recently designed and built a home in Peacham, Vermont where they enjoy spending time together.

Status

Forest Moon was incorporated in Vermont in January 2004 and began offering services in January 2006. Forest Moon is a nonprofit organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, making all donations tax deductible. The Employee Identification Number for Forest Moon is 20-0889425.