Sponsor A Family

The Sponsor A Family Program

A cancer diagnosis creates tremendous financial stresses, so we are committed to offering the Family Cancer Retreat at no cost to participants. The entire program-including meals, lodging, and all educational sessions-is provided at no charge.

In recent years, an increasing number of families have applied to attend our Retreats, while funding from government and foundation sources has declined. We no longer have sufficient funds to serve everyone who needs to attend the program. We created the “Sponsor a Family Program” to address this.

  • Individuals and groups can underwrite the cost of attendance for one or more families with a tax-deductible donation of $850 per family sponsored
  • Sponsors are invited to dinner on Saturday night during the retreat, so they can experience the program and see the impact of their donation

“The retreat was very beneficial for me and my husband…Thank you very much for your remarkable dedication to New Mexico cancer survivors. The recent conference gave me the opportunity to learn more about my disease and to resolve lingering emotional issues. Your generosity, organizational skills, and great dedication created a three-day event much appreciated by survivors and their families.”

How will my donation impact the lives of a family?

The Retreats are free, three-day educational programs held twice each year that provide NM’s adult cancer patients/survivors and their loved ones with tools and information to navigate the treatment and survival process. Each program features:

  • Lectures/discussions with 40+ of NM’s leading cancer experts
  • Opportunities to spend time learning from and sharing with others coping with similar challenges
  • Intensive time with loved ones to cope with the impacts of cancer on the family
  • Fun activities that provide a break from the day-to-day challenges of coping with cancer
  • Supervised activities for kids and teens, so parents can focus on the educational sessions

Attended by 500-600 people from 200+ families each year, this is the largest cancer education program in NM and the largest program of its type in the U.S. It has been nationally recognized as a winner of the Cancer Patient Education Network’s “Excellence in Patient Education” Award.

$850 seems a bit too steep for me…

Our Sponsor A Family supporters, many who have been participants at a retreat, know what a powerful and illuminating weekend this for anyone coping with cancer. $750 may be quite a lot for one person to give, but when you rally your friends and family to pull their resources together, this gift becomes more realistic! Here are a few ideas to help inspire your fundraising efforts:

  • Donate your birthday– In lieu of gifts, make a request for donations to help “Sponsor A Family”. One of our supporters was able to collect enough to sponsor 2 families, during her 60th birthday bash!
  • Have a rummage sale– Don’t think you have enough items to sell? Get your neighborhood, church, or community service group involved. The more the merrier!
  • Host a fundraising event at your home– A fabulous reason to get your friends together! Invite friends, co-workers, and neighbors to a wine and cheese party to help raise money to sponsor a family. Don’t forget to remind them to bring their checkbooks! (A CSNM Board Member would be happy to drop in and provide more information about the Family Cancer Retreat and Sponsor A Family to your guests. Just give us a call @ (505)259.9583.)

We encourage you to use the above ideas or come up with your own fun, creative way to help sponsor a family for the next retreat!



Yes, I want to sponsor a family!

“Something happened to my kids this weekend! They have finally started talking about my cancer and how it is impacting them.”