Cancer Lifeline and Harmony Hill Merger FAQ

This merger is an incredible opportunity to strengthen and expand non-medical cancer support in the Pacific Northwest. For over 50 years, Cancer Lifeline has been committed to improving the quality of life for all people experiencing cancer through free emotional support, resources, and life-changing programs. For more than 30 years, Harmony Hill has transformed lives with immersive retreats that provide respite, renewal, and connection for those facing cancer. With these deeply aligned missions, we are coming together to offer even more comprehensive care—expanding emotional support, education, restorative retreats, and integrative therapeutic services for individuals, families, and healthcare professionals seeking renewal.

Operating under the name Cancer Lifeline, this merger will allow us to:

• Broaden our reach to serve more individuals and communities impacted by cancer.
• Expand and enhance programs to deliver new, innovative, evidence-based support, integrating the expertise of both organizations to better meet the evolving needs of those we serve.
• Transition the Orion Center for Integrative Medicine, previously a program of Harmony Hill, into Cancer Lifeline, expanding access to research-validated therapeutic services including Psychotherapy, Oncology Massage, Acupuncture, Oncology Nutrition, Energy Medicine/Reiki Healing, and Reflexology.
• Enhance efficiency by consolidating operations, reducing duplication, and streamlining services—ensuring donor and partner resources go further in supporting those navigating cancer.

Together, we are setting a new standard for accessible, evidence-based cancer support.

The unified organization will be known as Cancer Lifeline, honoring our shared commitment to providing comprehensive cancer support while integrating the strengths of both organizations.

Cancer Lifeline’s core mission—to improve the quality of life for all people experiencing cancer—will remain the same after the merger. However, the merger with Harmony Hill will enhance and expand how this mission is fulfilled by integrating new programs and services. With the addition of Harmony Hill’s retreat-based healing approach and the Orion Center’s Integrative Therapy Services, Cancer Lifeline will be able to offer a broader range of evidence-based support, including immersive retreats and expanded wellness programming.

While the core values and commitment to emotional support, education, and accessibility will remain unchanged, Cancer Lifeline’s scope will grow to provide an even more comprehensive support system for individuals, families, and healthcare professionals impacted by cancer.

Joseph Yurgevich, Executive Director of Cancer Lifeline, will continue to lead the organization. Harmony Hill’s Executive Director, Cheryl Sesnon will join Cancer Lifeline as Deputy Director.

Cancer Lifeline and Harmony Hill have always supported one another, referring individuals affected by cancer and their loved ones to each other’s programs for decades.

In 2023, Harmony Hill made the strategic decision to shift its focus from operating a retreat center to expanding its cancer and health professional programming. Without the operational constraints of managing an eleven-acre facility, Harmony Hill proposed merging with Cancer Lifeline, as a natural evolution for both organizations.

This merger represents an incredible opportunity to combine our expertise and build on the strengths of each organization. Cancer Lifeline’s 50+ years of providing free emotional support and life-changing programs and services for those navigating cancer, and Harmony Hill’s 30+ years of delivering immersive retreat experiences for people experiencing cancer and healthcare professionals navigating the complexities of self-care in the midst of patient care.

The primary address and location of the newly merged organization will be the existing Cancer Lifeline center in Seattle. Harmony Hill retreats and programming will continue to be offered at their old location, which is now The Sacred Waters Retreat Center, as well as other more accessible locations.

All programs will continue without interruption, and nothing will change for participants. Both websites, along with their separate registration processes, will remain fully operational. In the coming months, we will begin integrating our websites, but each will stay accessible until the transition is complete. We will share updates and changes in our newsletter and on the website as they become available.

Most Cancer Lifeline programs will continue to be free. The only exceptions will be the multi-day Harmony Retreats and Orion Center for Integrative Medicine Integrative Therapy Services.

After the merger, Cancer Lifeline will operate Harmony Retreats, offering multiday retreats for anyone affected by cancer, as well as healthcare professionals seeking renewal in their work.

Program tuition for 3-Day Cancer Retreats is offered at no cost to participants. However, we do ask for participants to pay for the base cost of room(s) and meals associated with their retreat. At a 3-day Cancer Retreat these costs run approximately $400 for two nights of accommodation and seven meals. Harmony Retreats offers a sliding scale scholarship, for Washington State residents with significant financial need, which can reduce the cost to as low as $55 per person. If you would like to know more about retreat scholarship requirements, please contact [email protected].

Health Professional Retreats are either fully sponsored by medical systems, or participants pay for their own tuition, room and meals. All our Health Professional Retreats also offer contact hours to qualified participants.

The Orion Center for Integrative Medicine, which has been a program of Harmony Hill, and a tenant at the Cancer Lifeline center, will now be a program of Cancer Lifeline. By adding Orion to our suite of services, cancer patients will be able to access research validated therapeutic services along with other adjunctive services.

The services currently offered by Orion include Psychotherapy, Oncology Massage, Acupuncture, Oncology Nutrition, Energy Medicine/Reiki Healing, and Reflexology.

Orion accepts medical insurance and has options for those with no or low insurance access. Contact Orion to inquire about accessing integrative medical care for oncology patients at: orionskywellness.org/contact.

Yes, your donations will continue to support the same programs. For now, donations to support retreats will still be processed through the Harmony Hill website, and donations to Cancer Lifeline will be processed through the Cancer Lifeline website. We are working toward a unified system in the future, but in the meantime, each website will continue accepting donations for its specific programs. However, all tax letters will be issued from Cancer Lifeline.

Cancer Lifeline is financially healthy, with strong reserves, and the merger with Harmony Hill will further strengthen its stability. By merging as one organization, we eliminate the need to maintain separate sets of resources for each nonprofit, allowing us to use donor, grantor, and partner contributions more effectively. This merger enables us to operate more efficiently, reduce overhead costs, and expand our ability to serve those facing cancer. Both organizations bring a strong foundation, and together, we are committed to maintaining financial stability and sustainability for the future.