Survivors...

sur·vi·vor (sər vī′vər)

noun

1.    a person or thing that survives; specif., a person who has survived an ordeal or great misfortune

2.    a person regarded as resilient or courageous enough to be able to overcome hardship, misfortune, etc.

Team LUNA Chix

There are many kinds of survivors. At DVRC, everyday we see individuals who once called themselves victims… victims of dating violence, victims of domestic violence, victims of sexual assault… but who now call themselves survivors. There are survivors of war, survivors of serious illness… and yes, even survivors in television ‘reality’ shows (which in no way look like what most of us call reality). On January 29^th, Team LUNA Chix, a group of ladies who know quite a bit about survival (and crossing the finish line) held an event to support other women who are survivors of a different kind.

The women of Team LUNA Chix Triathlon and Team LUNA Chix New York Mountain Bike joined forces to help women who are breast cancer survivors and women who are survivors of domestic violence by organizing LunaFest… a unique film festival featuring 10 films by, for and about women.

Almost 300 people attended the film festival and shared laughter, tears, and inspiration as they watched films depicting women’s lives. From stories of love to breakups, to a young women’s feelings of living with AIDS, to an elder woman’s struggles to remain independent despite the challenges of Alzheimer’s, to inspiring stories of women in unconventional jobs, the films showed lives that encompass love, heartbreak, courage, joy…and celebrated women and their roles as survivors.

In addition to inspiring us, Lunafest raised almost $6,000 to support the Breast Cancer Fund and Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis Services. Consider this:

§  1 in 4 women is a victim of intimate partner violence in her lifetime, and

§  One in eight women or 12.6% of all women will get breast cancer in her lifetime.

The Breast Cancer Fund is committed to exposing and eliminating environmental causes of cancer… to stopping cancer before it starts. Visit http://www.breastcancerfund.org/reduce-your-risk/tips/ for some of their prevention tips you can implement today to reduce your exposure to potential carcinogens.

Click here http://dvrcsaratoga.org/for more information about DVRC and its services and how you can help.