Cancer patients need hope. They need help. HealingStrong provides just that, by taking a very different approach, and groups are popping up all over the world.

It all began in 2013 when a group of cancer survivors and caregivers identified a way to help, a way to connect people to hope, one community at a time. With 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women diagnosed, and a 5-year survival outcome for advanced stage 3 and 4 malignancies only at 2.3%, this group knew it was time to educate others about the power of nutrition, emotional healing, spiritual healing and detoxification. HealingStrong is a true grassroots, non-profit cancer resource organization, led by Suzy Griswold of Atlanta, Georgia.

“We came together to offer help to people diagnosed with cancer,” said Griswold. “Many of the group had lost loved ones, parents, siblings, and one of the team members, Billy Echols, lost his 25-year-old daughter, Elyse, to a rare cancer after only a few treatments – only to find out that there were things he didn’t know she could do until it was too late.”

Echols read the book “Cancer: Step Outside the Box,” and it motivated him to go on a personal mission to get the book into the hands of as many people as possible. Echols and Griswold met through mutual friends and the rest of the team came together shortly thereafter.

Three of this original team (Suzy Griswold, Cortney Campbell and Gil Montoya) were cancer thrivers and chose an integrative and holistic approach to healing. Griswold had thyroid cancer and initially used an integrative approach with surgery and radiation. When a subsequent scan showed activity in her lymph nodes, she began to pray. Discovery of a lung nodule kicked her intensive nutritional protocol into gear and thus began the journey to healing and wholeness.

After walking away from the recommended chemotherapy, Griswold was led to do an extensive juicing, plant-based diet and detoxification protocol inspired by Dr. Max Gerson, founder of the Gerson Clinic and author of “Cancer Therapy: A Result of 50 Case Studies,” and Anne Frahm’s “My Cancer Battle Plan.” She meditated daily, which provided nourishment to heal her emotional and soul wounds. It took 18 months, but the lymph nodes reduced in size and Griswold’s body healed from the inside out.

Campbell chose to do a similar approach that included a plant-based diet with extensive green smoothies. She was inspired by the book “Cancer Free: Your Guide to Gentle Non-Toxic Healing.” In 2011, Campbell started a blog called Green Drink Diaries, now known as Anti-Cancer Mom, and today it reaches hundreds of thousands of readers every year. Campbell was motivated to walk away from the recommended chemotherapy after her physician began talking about preparations for infertility. Today, she is cancer-free and she and her husband, Kevin, have four active children!

When Gil Montoya’s cancer returned, he began a plant-based diet and metabolic protocol under the supervision of Dr. Linda Isaacs. He lived well beyond what doctors predicted, passing away in 2015.

What makes this group so different? “All ten of them had been impacted by cancer, either as a thriver or caregiver and they all agreed that people need hope, choices, and help to connect the dots that nutrition, detoxification, exercise, and emotional freedom impact healing,” says Griswold. “They believed that more than just healing from cancer, or any other disease, is a deep need to heal the whole person.”

The HealingStrong team soon incorporated as a non-profit and were led to create a weekend retreat. Attendees came from all over North America, selling out the event! In some cases, scholarships were granted to cancer patients. It was the first time many of the holistic speakers, who are well-known today, had been on the same stage, altogether: Chris Wark, Dr. Linda Isaacs, Dr. Judy Seeger, Dr. Veronique Desaulniers, Ty Bollinger, and Robert Scott Bell.

That retreat changed the way people saw their disease. They adjourned, knowing they were not defined by cancer and that as long as there was breath in life, there was hope.

Testimonials from cancer thrivers poured in and a panel discussion with stage 3 and 4 holistic thrivers was the catalyst for the creation of HealingStrong Groups. People didn’t want the retreat to end. The team received numerous calls and inquiries about when and where other HealingStrong events would take place.

A local group of breast cancer thrivers (led by Christine Holcomb of Gainesville, Georgia) attended the conference and shortly thereafter reached out to the HealingStrong team requesting support to conduct monthly, small group, HealingStrong meetings. The first meeting occurred in December of 2013. “And the rest is history,” Griswold said enthusiastically.

Today, HealingStrong empowers 200 groups and 18,000 individuals every year with education, resources, and community support provided by leaders who have experience with holistic strategies and success.

“We’re working together to make a change, to give others hope, no matter which route of healing they choose – conventional, integrative or holistic therapies,” said Griswold.

To support the movement, HealingStrong Membership starts at as little as $5 a month and provides tremendous resources: participant guides; lessons on detoxification, diet, supplementation, exercise and emotional healing; easy-to-make recipes; affirmation cards; and research links – all accompanying group curriculum and benefits. Griswold adds, “Of course access to our website, a wealth of information, and attending group events are completely free.”

“HealingStrong exists because we are all better together,” said Griswold. “Our events and group meetings are the sparks that ignite other fires of divine inspiration and healing.” HealingStrong is the ideal resource to connect you with others who are implementing or interested in pursuing natural strategies to renew, rejuvenate and heal.

“We are new to HealingStrong after experiencing a heart attack. Our first meeting was exactly what we needed. My doctor told me to become vegan to treat my disease and this meeting helped support my new lifestyle change.”

~Joe, Heart Attack Thriver and HealingStrong Group Participant

“Healing Strong has meant so so much! As soon as I found out there was nothing more the doctors could do for me and to "get my things in order,” I found out about HealingStrong. There is such a need out there to teach people how to eat, how to forgive, how to clean up the toxins in their home, how to practice thankfulness... HealingStrong addresses all of this and more, and takes the pressure off the leaders by providing the curriculum. I am blessed to be teaching as I am living out the lifestyle of healing myself.”

~Karen Y., Stage 4 Cancer Thriver and now HealingStrong Group Leader

To learn more, visit the HealingStrong website and the HealingStrong Find A Group page.