In September of 2002, a fund raising fashion show event was held at St. Mary Medical to honor a dear friend of the institution, Rosemarie Vasallosso. As an outcome of that event, which raised over $55,000, we founded a much-needed program that reflected Roe’s feelings about healing.  The Cancer Healing Ministries was born!

Cancer Healing Ministries empowers cancer patients to accept the forms of healing treatments that most resonate with them.  We feel that, when a cancer patient is trying to put his/her life in order after cancer, financial strains to find the needed healing should be minimized. Through Cancer Healing Ministires, we are now able to refer cancer patients to our Holistic and Wellness Centers for free or reduced rate treatments and therapies that might otherwise be cost prohibitive.

Our second fashion show event, "It's a Wonderful Life," was also a tremendous success. We paid tribute to Tina McCaffrey, who was an integral member of our first year’s steering committee.

Tina had herself been affected by cancer years before, and passed over of unrelated causes just a month after the first fashion show. She was positively affected by the initial event, having told us that just being part of the event with its healing intention helped her healing process.

"It's a Wonderful Life" featured models that are all cancer survivors. It was an event that truly celebrated what a wonderful life we live. We succeeded in not just raising funds; we raised spirits. Donations from the event are still coming in.  By the time all tallies are in, we will have raised in excess of $110,000.   This will benefit anyone in our community who has been affected by cancer.

Referrals to the program are be made by a physician, nurse, or social worker. This year's event allowed us to open our doors to all cancer survivors, so the program is open to any member of the community that has been affected by any kind of cancer. The programs are diverse and whatever it takes to find healing, we will attempt to accommodate.

An evaluation of what may be needed to promote healing can be performed at our Holistic Center if you or your physician are unsure of what modalities will help you on your healing journey. If you know some one who may benefit from a referral to the program, contact the Holistic Center at 215-710-6948 or the Wellness Center at 215-710-6860.