By Australian Unity
Article published in Wellplan Magazine (Australian Unity), Issue 14, February 2009.
Many people who are diagnosed with terminal illnesses find that the most powerful form of healing comes from within. Karin Knoester, Chief Executive Officer of The Gawler Foundation, shares some insights into the holistic practices and education programs the Foundation provides.
Q What does The Gawler Foundation do?
The Gawler Foundation [based in Victoria's Yarra Valley] offers a range of lifestyle-based self-help programs that assist people in managing illnesses such as cancer and multiple sclerosis (MS).The basis of these programs involves meditation, nutrition and surrounding yourself with loving support. Our pioneering techniques are based on Dr Ian Gawler’s book, You Can Conquer Cancer ($27.95,Michelle Anderson Publishing). We believe there is a strong connection between the mind and body, and by tapping into that connect ion, it is possible to activate the body’s own mechanisms for healing.
Q How did it all begin?
In 1975, Ian Gawler was a young veterinarian and athlete who developed a very difficult and aggressive osteogenic sarcoma (bone cancer), resulting in his right leg having to be amputated. Later that year, the cancer returned and with only weeks to live, Ian and his first wife Grace started to utilise complementary therapies based on meditation, massage and an organic, vegan diet. Three years later, Ian was declared cancer-free and,based on his own experience, he started working with others affected by cancer, and then established Australia’s first cancer support group. The Gawler Foundation was established two years later, in 1983. Since then, the Foundation has helped thousands worldwide through its programs in cancer and MS management, disease prevention,stress management and counselling.
Q Can you tell us about some of the Foundation’s programs?
The Gawler Foundation’s lifestyle programs offer a combination of self-help techniques and holistic approaches to healing that are second to none and unique in the world. They are based on the philosophy that regaining balance in one’s life leads to healing – The Life & Living 10-day program for people with cancer is the Foundation’s main program, in conjunction with the Health, Healing & Beyond five-day follow-up program. These programs and our non-residential 12-week program for people with cancer make up the bulk of our work, and we see around 1,000 people each year presenting with cancer. On top of that, we also work with around 120 people suffering from MS each year. In 2009, we plan to introduce a diabetes program as well as a range of wellbeing retreats.
Q What do you love most about being part of this foundation?
Empowering people to take control of their lives through meditation and diet can be a very powerful process. Participants in our programs have often been given bleak prognoses by their doctors and feel as though they’ve lost control. Our lifestyle programs teach people how to activate the body’s own mechanisms for healing and, after 10 days of intensive support, meditation and great food, participants invariably leave our Yarra Valley Living Centre with a sense of empowerment. They take with them a blueprint that will enable them to work in conjunction with their medical treatments to actively play a part in improving their quality of life.
LEARN MORE
Australian Unity supports the great work of The Gawler Foundation through sponsorship of their annual conference, assisting patients, practioners, survivors and family to come together to share ideas, research, information and support.
Find out more about the foundation at www.gawler.org
Filed under: Media Coverage
