Babes4Breasts Partners with the Ottawa Integrative Cancer Centre on New Head Start Program for Women with Breast Cancer

Empowering women to be their best advocates

OTTAWA, June 4, 2014 /CNW/ - The Ottawa Integrative Cancer Centre (OICC) and Babes4Breasts have come together to launch the innovative Babes4Breasts Head Start Program for women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. The program will provide women with the best "head start" possible, and it will launch this coming fall with proceeds from the 8^th Annual Babes4Breasts Benefit Concert.

The Babes4Breasts Head Start Program will help women with breast cancer to understand the range of issues so poorly addressed when first diagnosed, enabling them to feel less alone and confused, and launching them on a journey towards healing. Improved quality of life, reduced side effects, reduced anxiety and depression, increased stamina, and better overall health outcomes are explored through weekly workshops with OICC therapists.  The program empowers women to be their best advocates, as they learn about the role of nutrition, natural health products, exercise, mind body techniques, stress management, and lifestyle modifications in coping with, and fighting, breast cancer.

Using the Power of Music to Raise Funds and Awareness for the OICC

The 8^th Annual Babes4Breasts Benefit Concert, and release of 2014 compilation album, will take place on Thursday, October 23rd at Southminster United Church in Ottawa.  A wide range of recording artists featuring undiscovered gems and Juno-award winners including Amanda Rheaume and Ana Miura will join together for an authentic, intimate and fun night of music benefitting the OICC.  Tickets will go on sale in August at www.babes4breasts.com  

"The greater Ottawa community is incredibly fortunate to have a place like the OICC when dealing with a life change as major as cancer, and we are proud to fund the new Babes4Breasts Head Start Program," says Ana Miura, Babes4Breasts Founder. "Through a combination of education, empowerment, and hands-on lifestyle modifications, this program will help ensure better health outcomes in the Ottawa region for those who are newly diagnosed with breast cancer and are facing the biggest challenge of their lifetime."

"We are very grateful for the support of Babes4Breasts in helping us launch this new and innovative program for women with breast cancer," says Sarah Young, OICC Programs and Outreach Coordinator.  "With the dedication of community partners such as Babes4Breasts, a greater number of patients will become stronger, empowered, and better able to face the challenges of everything that lies ahead when first diagnosed."

Babes4Breasts Teaser Appearance at the OICC for Doors Open Ottawa – Saturday, June 7th

Join us for a "sneak-peek" concert teaser this coming Saturday, June 7th during Doors Open Ottawa at the OICC. Babes4Breasts musicians Ana Miura and Amanda Rheaume will be performing from 2:30 – 3:30 pm at 29 Bayswater Avenue. The OICC will be open to the general public from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm.  Visit the historic CJOH-TV building, the site of its very first broadcast in 1961.  Discover how the facility has been renovated and designed as a healthy, sustainable environment for patients. Learn about OICC's innovative cancer care and prevention therapies, and sample nutritious foods.

About Babes4Breasts

Babes4Breasts (B4B) is a group of like-minded Canadian recording artists who have come together to fight breast cancer through music.  Our mission is to use the power of music to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer prevention, education, and support via conventional and integrative strategies, by way of a community-based approach.  Since 2007, Babes4Breasts has donated over $100,000 to a variety of breast cancer-related charities.  For more information, please visit www.babes4breasts.com

About the OICC

The Ottawa Integrative Cancer Centre (OICC) is the first integrative cancer care and research centre of its kind in Central and Eastern Canada. As a not-for-profit, regional centre of the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM) the OICC welcomes patients at any stage and those wishing to prevent cancer or its recurrence. The OICC provides whole-person cancer care alongside conventional treatments to improve the quality of life, and to extend life where possible. The Centre works with patients and physicians, to provide therapeutic programs that decrease side effects and promote health during and after conventional treatments. Through clinical practice, research and education, the OICC strives to assess and reduce possible causes of cancer while exploring innovative integrative treatment approaches. For more information, please visit www.oicc.ca  or www.oicc.ca/babes4breasts

SOURCE: Ottawa Integrative Cancer Centre (OICC)

Media Contacts: Ana Miura, Boss Babe, Babes4Breasts, 613-864-0516, [email protected]; Heidi Vincent, Marketing, Communications & Public Relations, Ottawa Integrative Cancer Centre, 613-293-3564, [email protected]