Who We Are – The Healing Garden

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to optimize the quality of life for adults affected by cancer in Massachusetts.

OUR PHILOSOPHY

Our care model offers clients, caregivers and those bereaved from a cancer loss, social support through variety of programs and services, in-person and online. The Healing Garden’s team creates a community where clients find hope and resiliency while navigating the cancer experience. To help alleviate the financial toxicity that often occurs with a cancer diagnosis, we offer our programs and services at low to no cost to the client.

OUR HISTORY

The Virginia Thurston Healing Garden began as a tribute to Ginny Thurston. She found solace in her Harvard, Massachusetts garden during her breast cancer treatment. Ginny embraced complementary therapies like acupuncture and oncology massage alongside her medical care. Her garden became a sanctuary, inspiring her husband Bill to preserve its legacy after Ginny’s passing in 1999.

In collaboration with Betsy Tyson-Smith, a psychotherapist and Ginny’s cancer support group leader, Bill envisioned a center offering complementary therapies, emotional support, and the healing power of art and nature. In 2000, he donated a portion of their garden property, launching the Virginia Thurston Healing Garden.

In 2008, the organization completed a $1 million capital campaign to transform the property into a fully renovated center. In 2012, the mission expanded to serve all individuals with cancer, regardless of diagnosis. In 2020, facing a global pandemic, the Healing Garden created virtual programs to meet the needs of their clients. This offering has expanded the reach and accessibility of the Healing Garden so clients from all over Massachusetts can find support and community as they navigate their cancer experience.

Today, the Virginia Thurston Healing Garden is providing care to people across 195 towns and cities in Massachusetts. With over 550 clients engaging in an average of 6600 visits a year, the Healing Garden continues to be an important support to many through the various stages of a cancer experience. Our mission remains consistent and focused, which is to serve Massachusetts residents at any stage of a cancer diagnosis who seek emotional and social support and provide hope and responsiveness with a variety of programs and services at low to no cost to the client.