We’re six weeks from Survivor Conference 2015: uPOWer which means we’re starting to get a lot of the same questions. Since we know there’s more than one person out there thinking these things, we wanted to post some FAQs that might be on your mind!
Q: What does the $199 registration fee cover? Are there any fees besides the $199 registration fee?
A: The registration fee helps us cover some of the cost of your room and food for the weekend. The only other costs you will have are your travel expenses and any free time activities you have signed up for. We do have some financial assistance options if you need a little extra help, but we don’t cover any social activities.
Q: How can I apply for financial assistance, and what does it cover?
A: If the cost of travel or your registration fee are barriers between you and one amazing weekend, email [email protected] and she will send you an application form to fill out to get the process started.
We may be able to waive your registration fee, and offer up to 50 per cent of the cost of the flight OR the maximum grant based on your province to help you get there. Since we get a fair number of these requests, it is greatly appreciated when you are able to help fundraise to make up the difference and/or replenish the funding pool, and we have some easy options and ideas to help such as setting you up with an online fundraising page through our Survivor Conference website, and telling you about some great offline options as well. Tracy will connect you with Lori when you contact her about the form; Lori has helped raise $60,000 for YACC through her son’s Shaves for the Brave, and she has lots of great ideas.
Q: What happens if I raise more money than I need for my expenses?
A: Any extra money raised by conference participants goes directly into our travel assistance fund to go towards helping other survivors who may need a little extra help to get to the conference. It’s all about paying it forward, and having each other’s backs.
Q: What if I don’t need financial assistance, but I still want to raise money through the Expansion Pack?
That would be awesome! There are many expenses associated with the event that the $199 fee won’t cover, and any extra money we have means we can offer more to more young adults affected by cancer, ideally by increasing the number of people who can attend Survivor Conference 2015.
Q: When should I book my travel?
A: As soon as you know you’re definitely coming! The program kicks off in the afternoon on Thursday, and you’ll need time to check in, get settled, etc. so don’t take chances on that train or plane filling up before you get there! This is also especially true for anyone needing travel assistance; the earlier you book your flight, the better your fare will be.
Q: I might have other commitments during the weekend of the conference, am I able to come and go as necessary over the weekend?
A: Currently our Survivor Conference is not set up so that people can come and go. It’s designed for participants to attend the whole conference.
The conference brings together a group of people who get it to connect and learn things that can help move forward or beyond the cancer experience. We aim to give you information that you can use to regain some of the control you may have lost — or feel like you lost — while dealing with cancer to help you move forward and to feel supported while doing it. This takes time to do and people won’t get the full experience or benefit if they are missing parts of the conference.
Although we are not able to accommodate this request at the moment, we do take your feedback to heart and always try to incorporate it where we can.
Q: My abilities change day to day. Will I be able to change my choices based on my abilities that day?
A: We do encourage you to attend all of the keynote addresses and workshops, but if you are unable to do so, please let a staff member know. We absolutely want you to have the best experience possible at the conference. If you are not feeling up to participating in the free time activities or evening activities, please feel free to take some relaxation time, though we hope you will take in everything you can.
Q: What should I wear to the banquet Sunday night?
A: You can wear whatever you’re comfortable in, but some people take this opportunity to put on their party clothes and shake it up from the more casual clothes we’ve been in all weekend. There will be dancing, so make sure your shoes are comfy!
Q: What type of group and free-time activities should I expect?
We’re still working with our social committee to nail down the details of our free-time activities, but in the past we’ve gone for food; checked out the CN Tower, Hockey Hall of Fame, and Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada; and more. The hotel is on the water, so there are also many opportunities for beautiful walks, and the Eaton Centre is just a couple of kilometres away.
Q: How many people are in each room, and can we chose our roommates?
A: There will be two people in each room. If you are bringing a supporter, we will make sure you are able to room with them. For those of you coming on your own, you can request to share a room with another survivor if you know someone else who is coming. Otherwise, we try to match roommates based on gender, age, and diagnosis.
That covers the main questions we get, but if there’s something on your mind that’s not on this list, feel free to get in touch with Tracy at 1 (877) 571-7325 or [email protected], and she’ll help you out!
