Circle of Friends at Griffin Hospital in Derby supports others with cancer diagnosis

DERBY - At our 'Circle of Friends' support group meeting Thursday night we created cards for friends we've never met. 
We are breast cancer survivors who meet once a month at The Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital. 

We always have a lot of laughs, and Thursday night was no exception. As always a big thank you goes out to our group facilitators, Joyce Grohe and Donna Hayes, for making the meetings memorable! 

The notes we penned for women who recently have been diagnosed with breast cancer are meant to encourage them on their treatment journey. 
Our handwritten, colorful cards will be sent to the Girls Love Mail program based in Folsom, Calif. to be read over before being distributed. 

Participants are urged to start their letters with "Dear Friend," or "Dear Sister," and to follow writing guidelines.
We had fun using stickers, feathers, and other forms of "bling," as we called it, to decorate the cards. 

Here's a sample:

Here's a photo of one of my 'Circle' friends snapping a picture of our display. 

Girls Love Mail was not around in 2011 when I was diagnosed, but I know I would have loved to receive a hand-written note of encouragement from a friend I had never met.