NEW ULM — When breast cancer survivor Amber Melby started the organization B the Light with the mission of “Offering HOPE to breast cancer survivors one getaway at a time,” she had no idea of the overwhelming support that would follow. After its first successful gala last fall, it was time to complete the first mission and choose a HOPE Getaway recipient.

On Nov. 14, 2019, Sara Schultz of Sleepy Eye was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma [breast cancer] at the age of 31. She writes in her recent blog, “… I felt robbed. My life as I knew it was about to change- how would my children, Samuel (3) and Rowyn (1) cope? Will my husband still think I’m beautiful? What about all of my hopes and dreams?”

On May 1, one of Sara’s greatest dreams was about to come true. Through FaceTime video chat due to current social distancing, Sara was notified that with a unanimous decision by the board of directors, she was selected as the first-ever HOPE Getaway recipient. This nomination would now allow her the chance to pursue her dream of climbing Vinicunca – Rainbow Mountain in Peru. Her reaction to the news was priceless. “I write down every single day that I get to climb Rainbow Mountain, and now I get to, because of you guys.”

When one is given the news of this invasive disease, it affects everyone in their world. According to the American Psychological Association, “When one member of a family has cancer, the whole family is affected.” HOPE Getaways will allow a survivor to join their family on a healing journey back to feeling whole again, without the financial burden of travel expenses.

Sara wrote in her application, “Receiving a HOPE Getaway Award would mean so much to me. My husband and I actually looked into flying to Peru and embarking on a 1 to 3-day hike up Rainbow Mountain, sadly it just didn’t fit our budget. Now we joke about it and say, “if it wasn’t for this diagnosis, we could have climbed Rainbow Mountain twice!” Climbing Rainbow Mountain will continue to be a dream of mine, but with your help and generous consideration, you could make my dream a reality. I could be an overcomer.”

For more information, search www.bthelightinfo.org or email info@bthelightinfo.org.