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First Posted: 7/8/2013 FORTY FORT &#8212; A new director with a unique perspective &#8212; Chris Ostroski , a breast cancer survivor &#8212; can relate to the clients at Candy&#8217;s Place and help them cope with their diagnoses.
Ostroski took the reins at the resource center for cancer patients and their families in May and she has settled in comfortably with her new position and responsibilities.
&#8220;I know what people with cancer diagnoses go through,&#8221; Ostroski said. &#8220;I know the emotional, physical and mental challenges.&#8221;
Ostroski, 44, was diagnosed with breast cancer four years ago and she said she immediately &#8220;researched everything&#8221; to self-educate herself about her condition. She said because of her research and her first-hand experience, she can help clients at Candy&#8217;s Place.
Candy&#8217;s Place was founded in 1998 in memory of Candice Vincent-Mamary. Penny Vincent Cunningham, Candy&#8217;s sister, founded the organization to help others with cancer. Before she died, Candy told Penny that she wanted &#8220;something good to come out of her disease.&#8221;
Penny kept her promise and from its humble beginnings around Penny&#8217;s kitchen table, the organization has grown to its new 4,000 square foot home, offering many programs and services for patients.
Cunningham said hundreds of patients, survivors, caregivers, widows and widowers, and loved ones have participated and benefited from the services offered at Candy&#8217;s Place. She said medical advances have been made in the treatment of cancer, but little emphasis has been placed on the recovery and re-healing of cancer&#8217;s physical and emotional aspects, and most importantly, the quality of life issues before, during and after cancer treatment.
That&#8217;s why Cunningham feels Ostroski&#8217;s perspective and experience will aid her greatly in her job.
&#8220;Who better is able to relate than one cancer patient to another,&#8221; Cunningham said. &#8220;And Chris was willing to share her experience. That helps our patients with their attitude toward recovery.&#8221;
Cunningham said Candy&#8217;s Place doesn&#8217;t receive state or federal funds and it is not a United Way member agency. The organization applies for community, county, state and private grants, but most of its funding comes from individual and corporate donations, and from several annual fundraising events that are held throughout the year.
Ostroski said Candy&#8217;s Place offer educational classes and peer group sessions, as well as exercise classes, yoga, meditation and personal training. All services are free to cancer patients and are open to the general public for $35 per month or $7 per class.
She said a woman came to Candy&#8217;s Place recently who was having a difficult time coping with the loss of her hair and other complications.
&#8220;She had a double mastectomy,&#8221; Ostroski said. &#8220;We talked for two hours and we bonded. We tried on wigs and we shared experiences.&#8221;
She said she understands how patients think about their condition constantly.
&#8220;You think about it every single day,&#8221; she said. &#8220;You have to deal with it and learn to cope and live your life.&#8221;

New Candy’s Place director has special connection to clients