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Mission
The Vancouver Friends For Life Society serves as a catalyst to enhance the wellness of individuals living with a life threatening illness by providing complementary and alternative health and support services.
Friends For Life is a non-profit society - Charitable Registration BIN # 138277728RR0001.
Wellness Philosophy
The Vancouver Friends For Life Society, by inviting members to participate in complementary and alternative health programs and services, assists members in assuming responsibility for their own health and well-being. Wellness is more than the absence of illness. Wellness is a physical, mental, social and spiritual state whereby people feel more personal control over their health. People living with life threatening illness do better physically and psychologically when they gain the tools and resources to make their own best health decisions.
For some people, living with a life-threatening illness can lead to anxiety, fear, depression, and/or social isolation. Friends For Life believes it is of the utmost importance that people learn to take an active role in their wellness journey. At Friends For Life, we recognize that with compassion, support and knowledge, the experience of illness can be a catalyst for positive personal transformation.
Values Statement
Friends For Life believes in the capacity to heal therefore we recognize the importance of complementary and alternative health services and a holistic approach to health and well-being.
Friends For Life is committed to providing equal access to services across its membership. This includes providing all services free of charge within an accessible and safe environment.
Friends For Life recognizes the important role that a warm, welcoming environment and beautiful surroundings can play in enhancing the wellness experience.
Friends For Life applauds the active role of volunteers at the Society in delivering services, helping to inform programming directions and creating a caring community.
Friends For Life respects the role of members in providing a valuable and essential perspective in informing the strategic direction of the Society. Friends For Life honours the courage and compassion demonstrated by members in their wellness journey and values the essential perspective of those living with a life-threatening illness in informing decisions.
Friends For life staff, volunteers and members endeavour to reflect the diversity of all communities affected by life threatening illness. We are all genders and all sexual orientations. We value and celebrate our diversity. We are dedicated to creating respectful, safe and healing environments and expect that all who come to Friends For Life will extend respect to those they meet here. We at Friends For Life act to promote the inclusion of all.
History
Friends For Life was incorporated in 1993 as a not-for-profit society under British Columbia's Society Act. Friends For Life was started to meet the needs of people confronting the challenges of the 1990s HIV/ AIDS epidemic. Today, Friends For Life provides services to persons with any life-threatening illness including cancer and Hepatitis C.
In 1995 Friends For Life opened the Diamond Centre For Living, North America's only comprehensive wellness centre offering programs and services in a drop-in facility, free-of-charge, to people with life-threatening illness.
Friends For Life was built on the belief that no one should have to face the many challenges of serious illness alone. Our philosophy recognizes the connection between the mind and body with a view towards treating the whole person - the mind, body and soul - rather than treating the illness alone.
Our programs and services focus on wellness, a holistic approach to healing, and are intended to complement primary medical care. Offered in a safe, confidential environment these programs are designed to help our members gain control over their health and to reduce the anxiety, stress and isolation of fighting their illness. We believe that with proper support and access to our healing services, members can delay the progression of illness and minimize the need for institutional care. Ultimately, our goal is to give people with HIV/ AIDS, cancer, and other life-threatening illnesses the tools to significantly improve their quality of life.
Today, Friends For Life provides services to over 1500 members and associate members. The demand for our services increases constantly. Our services are very diverse, ranging from clinics in massage, naturopathy and Traditional Chinese Medicine, to Reiki, shiatsu, tai chi, and yoga, to music therapy, art therapy, meditation, group support work and individual counseling, to name but a few. We also have a comprehensive nutrition program and serve over 7000 home-cooked meals to our members each year. Finally, for members in the palliative stages of illness, we offer practical and emotional supports through our HOME Team program.
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