Dear Friend of the Community,
My name is Jan Page and I was the founding director of Kaleidoscope. Kaleidoscope is a non-profit 501(c)3 which supports people in Far East Contra Costa County who are living with cancer. Kaleidoscope is staffed entirely by volunteers and funded solely through donations and grants.
As you may or may not know, Far East Contra Costa County is ranked second in California in incident rate for breast, ovarian, and prostate cancer. In 1980, my family moved from San Ramon to live on the beautiful delta. In 1988, a regular exam discovered abnormalities and four days later, at the age of 45, I was diagnosed with ovarian and breast cancer, and I knew my life would never be the same. I was no longer able to return to my teaching position, and as a result of extensive chemotherapy, I lost most of my hearing. Cancer brought forth many changes and I sensed a loss of identity and my purpose in life.
Fifteen years after my diagnosis, a friend and I had a vision of starting a small group that would be an outreach for those with cancer. A grassroots movement called Kaleidoscope with a mission to offer hope and connection to people in our community living with cancer was started. In 2003, the connection between Kaleidoscope and the cancer patient began with the delivery of a Bag of Hope, which included beautiful items made or chosen with a specific person in mind. Ten years later, Kaleidoscope, due to the visions of its volunteers, now offers ten additional programs that are described in our brochure.
Kaleidoscope, through its network of organizations, churches, and volunteers, offers programs that support both patients and their families. Medical facilities are now partnering with Kaleidoscope to reach more people in the community whose lives have been impacted by cancer. Our volunteers comprise a diverse cross-section of the surrounding communities and include people from all walks of live who collaborate to support Kaleidoscope's unique programs. Our mission is to offer continuous and personal support to the cancer patient wherever they may be on their jouyrney. All of our programs are offered without cost.
After almost twenty-five years, I am still living the life of a cancer survivor as cancer occasionally pops up. From the moment Kaleidoscope was conceived, I found new purpose and passion in my life. Without a doubt, Kaleidoscope volunteers demonstrate healing love in our community 365 days a year. I hope my life has inspired others as their stories have inspired me. We ask you for your community support in order to continue the valuable work Kaleidoscope provides in offering hope and connection to people living with cancer. We value our sponsors and make certain that they have prominent credit for their support.
Sincerely,
Jan Page
Founding Director of Kaleidoscope
