Our next event

Your Localife leaders are busily planning your next event! Email localifevictoria@youngadultcancer.ca to stay in the loop!

News

To come!

Leader bios

Amber Pywell

My name is Amber Pywell, and I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2015 at the age of 34. At the time, my kids were eight-, six-, and two-years-old. To say this added many difficult layers to my diagnosis would be an understatement. Navigating cancer, three kids, a husband, and trying to keep working through it all definitely left me failing on many days.

My connections through YACC have always come when I needed them most, and even when I didn’t know it was what I needed. Not only have I met many amazing people through YACC, but I have even made a few friends that I will cherish for life.

I am thrilled to be able to be a part of Localife Victoria! I know we can create a space that welcomes you when you are doing well, and more importantly, it will welcome you when you are failing. We will give you opportunities to break the routine and get out of the house. It will be a space free of judgement that will offer connections that can last as long as you need them. There will be much laughter, good food, and opportunities to get outside your comfort zone (but only if you want to).

It’s only awkward for a minute, and then you will wonder how you ever made it without us! So take a leap, and join us on our next adventure!

Anja Hesz

Hi everyone, I am so excited to be co-hosting Localife on Vancouver Island and I really want to meet you!

I was diagnosed with melanoma at age 23 and felt totally isolated until YACC connected me to a group of young adult survivors. Being part of this community brings tonnes of laughs, some tears, and (most of all), healing.

I have been dedicated to connecting other survivors in this community for over four years, and I am so pleased to partner up with my hilarious co-leader, Amber, and YACC to keep building our awesome group.

I love gardening and picking mushrooms, and nothing makes me happier than enjoying these hobbies with my mom and sister, although nothing makes me crazier, either. If you come out to Localife, you might meet my sister, and you’ll definitely meet my partner, Mike. He’s the tall, dark, handsome one.

Since I’m an adrenaline junkie, getting used to my new normal has been really challenging physically, so we’ve had to get creative about chasing my excitement. Cancer pushes me to enjoy life and I want everyone to have the opportunity to find meaning and connect with others, so making sure that you can participate is my top priority. We get together as a group, but if that’s not your thing, get in touch because we have other ways of connecting, too.