Inspiring, informing, and rebuilding life after cancer. Together.

This moving video highlights the emotional weight of a cancer diagnosis – focusing on invasive ductal carcinoma –and the deep sense of isolation that often follows active treatment. It introduces Shay’s Warriors, founded by stage 3 triple-negative breast cancer survivor Shay Moraga, and details how the organization fills the post-treatment survivorship gap. Featuring personal survivor stories, insights from medical partners, and local support from Big Horn Golf Club Charities, the video showcases Shay’s Warriors’ flagship 4-day healing retreat and its free monthly community programs (including Move2Heal, Coffee & Connections, Talk Listen SHARE, and Yo Bro, I'm Brave Too! for men). Ultimately, it emphasizes that while treatment ends, survivorship is a lifelong journey of healing mind, body, and soul together.

[Gentle music plays softly in the background throughout]
Part 1: The Weight of Diagnosis & Isolation
Cancer Survivor 1:
[Cancer] knocked on my door and I had to answer it and deal with how challenging that word of having cancer can be on a human being.
I got the dreaded phone call on December 13th, 2023, that I was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma and that I needed to be referred to oncology right away.
The immediate thoughts really are to your family and your life: Will I live long enough to see my kids graduate from high school?
All I could do was push the emotions deeper and deeper inside just so that I could get through the day. Nobody in my family knew anything at all about that part of my life—they never saw it. All they saw was Mom lose her hair, Mom lose a little bit of weight, and Mom not feeling well.
I felt so oddly alone, and I felt so empty. Until you find someone that has gone through it or knows how you feel during and after—that's where Shay's Warriors came in. And I will forever, forever be grateful.
Part 2: The Vision Behind Shay’s Warriors
Shay Moraga (Founder, Stage 3 Cancer Survivor):
The Shay's Warriors vision came to fruition in 2016 when I was diagnosed with stage 3 triple-negative breast cancer. As a young woman under 40 years old who had never had a mammogram, I sought out support from other women like me. That support came from another breast cancer survivor, Eileen Alvarez, who also experienced this horrible disease at a young age.
Initially, the vision was to create a 4-day, 3-night retreat—fully paid for—for up to 50 breast cancer survivors.
Part 3: The Healing Retreat Experience
Cancer Survivor 2:
The moment I showed up to the retreat was life-changing. I walked into the lobby and felt at home. That entire weekend changed my life.
Shay Moraga:
Watching each of these women start to heal—heal from the trauma of having cancer—changed my life in a way that I would never have dreamt.
Cancer Survivor 2:
We'd reconnect at the end of the day and talk about either the retreat or just bond and talk about our lives. There's something really powerful in being able to connect with someone who's been in your shoes before.
Part 4: Bridging the Gap in Oncology Care
Medical Partner / Healthcare Professional:
Cancer treatment isn't the only part of a patient's journey. The next step after that is survivorship.
It's really nice to partner with Shay's Warriors because we feel like we have peace of mind at the cancer center knowing that we're handing that patient off to someone who's going to hold their hand for that next step of the journey.
Big Horn Golf Club Charities Representative:
Big Horn Golf Club Charities was established in 2007, and we oversee Big Horn Cares and Big Horn BAM. Within that, we have been able to partner with Shay's Warriors. It helps local cancer patients, nonprofits, and provides education scholarships.
We love supporting Shay's Warriors because they're local here in the Coachella Valley and because cancer survivors need continued support.
Part 5: Community Programs & Ongoing Support
Shay Moraga:
We aim to give back what cancer takes away in a community that understands—and at absolutely no cost to the participants.
In addition to our retreat, we have four monthly free community programs:

• Talk, Listen, Share

• Move to Heal

• Coffee & Connections

• Plus, our newest program, Yo Bro, I'm Brave Too—a program designed for male cancer survivors and caregivers, because men need a safe space for support, too.

We cannot continue to offer support and free programs without the generosity of our entire community. It truly takes a village to help others heal in life after cancer—something people often never think about.
Part 6: Rediscovering Life After Cancer
Cancer Survivor 1:
My life today after cancer is better because of Shay's Warriors. We have this community now where we're all living our lives again. While there's still that fear and that longing for support, with Shay's Warriors and the entire community involved, we're lifers. We're a family.
I can't even begin to express the tremendous support and love. It was the opportunity to dig myself out of the hole that I had been in and give myself the grace to know that it was okay to live.
Shay Moraga:
I do this because I got a second chance at life—it is now my purpose. By being a part of the Shay's Warriors community, we all get the opportunity to help survivors and their families heal through this harsh life after cancer journey.
We get to give hope and joy back to others—all healing together: mind, body, and soul.
[Music fades out]