A new, non-profit organization based in Fountain Hills has been established to close the gaps in services between the initial diagnosis of cancer and the final farewell for terminal patients, their families, and caregivers.

Cancer Comfort Centers will hold its first public meeting Saturday, Sept. 20, at the Fellowship Hall of the Shepherd of Fountain Hills Lutheran Church, 16150 E. El Lago Blvd.

The meeting begins at 9 a.m. and is open to the public free of charge.

The meeting’s purpose is to introduce upcoming workshops; develop feedback from attendees regarding their priorities and topic interests for future CCC workshops; and invite volunteers who would like to participate in future programs or help deliver the organization’s message.

Program schedules and information kits will be available Oct. 1.

Cancer Comfort Centers, Inc., formed in July 2014, was conceived to provide guidance and empowerment through community-based education, planning, sharing and spirituality workshops.

According to organization founder Howard Christensen, Cancer Care Centers’ mission is to give hope, inspiration and purpose to terminally ill individuals, their families, friends and caregivers.

Although still in development, future programs and workshops will emphasize face-to-face communications that are designed to help patients, or “care receivers,” define priorities, live with passion and discover new occasions for happiness.

“Our approach is not to discuss the statistics such as the rapid spread of cancer or other terminal illnesses, nor to talk about the suffering, loneliness and the darkness faced by the terminal patient, their

family, friends and care providers when diagnosed with debilitating disease,” said Christensen.

“Rather, it is to generate discussions that open a pathway of hope, inspiration and purpose for those facing a terminal diagnosis and its predicable timeline before the final farewell.”

Christensen said that when confronted with the trauma of a terminal diagnosis, newly-diagnosed patients are often faced with a flood of critical decisions.

These individuals, their families and their caregivers often don’t know where to turn for help with the overwhelming doubts, emotions, family communications and personal planning needs.

As they search for meaning, order and comfort, it quickly becomes evident that there is a huge gap in services and support.

In February 2014, Christensen was diagnosed with Stage IV metastatic cancer, a terminal condition.

A successful businessman enjoying an active retirement in Fountain Hills, he found that the shock and pain he experienced was compounded by the rapid realization that there were virtually no coordinated services or support for the terminal individual who is still active and not yet eligible for hospice services.

“As I waited in medical offices for treatment, I saw many others going through what I was experiencing,” he said.

After discussing his experiences with Fountain Hills’ business, community and spiritual leaders, he found substantial support for forming a cancer comfort support team.

Many of these individuals have now become the founding members of the Cancer Comfort Centers’ Board of Directors.

The organization, which currently is in the process of filing for non-profit 501(c)(3) status, intends to provide its workshops in convenient Fountain Hills venues so that attendees can personally meet within the local community with others suffering the same situation, sharing solutions and positive performance results.