Shay's Warriors receives $1,000 grant for helping local cancer survivors

She is a force of nature. A survivor. A thriver. Shay Moraga is an inspiration to everyone who meets her, and our valley is fortunate to have such a positive and inspirational cheerleader for those navigating the frightening and unknown world of life after cancer. Because the fight continues long after chemotherapy, radiation and other treatments stop.

Moraga was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in 2016. As a young mother, she knew she had a tough fight ahead of her but she was determined to take on that fight and beat the big "C." And she was also determined to help others in their fights as they continued their cancer journeys.

“Who you were before cancer no longer exists," Moraga says. "And many women find themselves asking: How do I move on? Will the cancer come back? Who am I now?”

In response to these profound questions, Moraga created her nonprofit Shay's Warriors, a large support group of cancer survivors committed to helping each other tackle their cancer journeys as they re-enter life after treatments.

Moraga has created many programs, including a virtual support group called “talk listen share,” which she says is “an educational series for things we can control as life moves forward." She also has a “Coffee and Connection” opportunity to continue the conversations. Often they add hikes, yoga and other wellness practices, and all of these programs are free, including her annual immersive retreat program called “I Am Hope” which will take place June 24-26. This year, 25 cancer survivors will attend at no cost.

Moraga says: “The I Am Hope survivors reset retreat is a three-day, two-night experience for women hosted in our beautiful Coachella Valley. This year’s retreat focuses on breast and other reproductive cancer survivors. We aim to help survivors get clear on life after cancer and how to move forward.”

Moraga knows all too well that the cancer journey continues, and it's her mission to help others stay strong.

“Cancer never truly leaves you. Physically, yes. Emotionally, never. Your body acts differently now,” she says. “There’s often guilt, fear, loneliness and an overwhelming sense of what in the actual hell did I just go through?”

It's a struggle she shares, and she is dedicated to helping support others, so it's for this extraordinary outreach in our community that we award our Jordan Schnitzer Family Foundation Power of Community $1,000 grant to Shay's Warriors so they may continue their mission to help our valley cancer warriors continue their fight.

“Living life after cancer is tough," Moraga says. "We want to inspire, inform, empower and help heal women and their families through health, fitness and the mind-body connection.”

Yes. Cancer changes everything, but not being alone — having loving and caring support as the journey continues — does change the fight.

If you know of a deserving volunteer who would love to have their nonprofit awarded the Power of Community grant, please email us at giving@desertsun.com. Include the name of the volunteer, the nonprofit they support and a few comments on why they are so deserving.

To learn more about Shay's Warriors, visit shayswarriors.org. For more on the I Am Hope retreat, visit iamhoperetreat.com.

Sandie Newton is an award-winning broadcast journalist who began her career in Los Angeles as co-host of the nationally syndicated show "PM Magazine." She went on to host many local and national shows like "Hollywood Insider" before becoming one of the original anchors for E! and a regular on Hallmark Channel's "Home & Family." In 2017, she moved to the desert full time, creating and hosting NBCares for more than six years, profiling more than 300 valley nonprofits. She is now the host of "Living Better," airing locally on KESQ, CBS2 and FOX.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Shay's Warriors receives $1k grant for helping local cancer survivors