Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1214157
patients, real-world worries melt away for the couple of hours they're on the boat. "He was completely happy." Tagiuri adds of the VIP who got to steer the boat. "That's sort of typi- cal. It's very gratifying to see that. The people's anxiety levels are low." Lori Wirth, MD, president of the board of Sailing Heals and medical director of the Center for Head and Neck Cancers at Massachusetts General Hospital, often refers patients to Sailing Heals and knows firsthand the power of the program. And although all individual patients' experiences are different, they have one thing in common: At their next medical appointment, Sailing Heals is all they want to talk with her about. "They don't want to talk to me about their cancer when I walk into the room to say hi," Wirth says. "They want to show me pictures from their sail." The two-hour sail caps off an entire afternoon devoted to the VIPs. A Sailing Heals event also includes a beautiful buffet lunch before the sail and a chance to mingle with the guests, captains, and other volunteers. "Everything is free for our guests," Boisvert says. While about 85 percent of Sailing Heals' funding comes from private donations, the program also works with sponsors, such as Eisai and J Barrett & Company, as well as family foundations. Since launching in 2011 with an idea from Boisvert's twin sister, Michele Gallagher Glesinger, the program has grown beyond its Marblehead roots to include 23 ports across the country; sails take place in Florida, Annapolis, San Diego, Rhode Island, Maine, South Carolina, and more. The program has about 250 host captains— most of whom have sailboats, although some have larger power boats—and have hosted more than 4,000 VIP guests. "Cancer is everywhere, so we want to give as many people as we can, in as many places as we can, a beautiful day," Boisvert says. Sailing Heals has also expanded beyond its traditional Healing Sails for cancer patients and their caregivers to also host sails for Boston Marathon bombing survivors; nurse appreciation sails to honor oncology nurses, and sweet and special dress-up Pirates and Princesses Treasure Hunt Boating Adventures for kids. Wirth believes that the "Healing Sails" live up to their name for patients by emotionally filling up their tanks for the rest of their cancer journey. Taking the wheel of a sailboat can be empowering, restoring a cancer patient's sense of control; an idyllic day at sea recalls all the beauty in the world that they're eager to get back to. And for patients who've reached the end of their cancer journey and their lives, an afternoon with Sailing Heals provides one last beautiful memory for them and their loved ones. "Cancer is an all-consuming experience, and it just takes over one's life," Wirth says. "What Sailing Heals offers people is a chance—an afternoon—to kind of just have a little normal life back again, and a chance just for a bit of happiness and pure joy and an escape from the reality of dealing with cancer day in and day out." PRIORITIZING YOUR WELLNESS WITH CBD-RICH HEMP SOLUTIONS "THE BEST!! Love shopping at the Kind Lab. They are always very informative and helpful." — K I M M . 575 Osgood Street, North Andover, MA 01845 LEARN MORE 978-965-3715 | EdgewoodRC.com/Northshore A N O T - F O R - P R O F I T L I F E C A R E C O M M U N I T Y re . tire΄ment v. living life on your own terms Who says you have to start slowing down? Be inspired. Be active. Be adventurous. Embrace the freedom of doing what you like and liking what you do at Edgewood.