This year the event will honor Marie Cogar. Originally from rural Wisconsin, Marie moved to the North Country in 1981 and has dedicated her career to counseling and helping others. Less than a year after her move to this area, Cogar was diagnosed with invasive cancer and then in 1996 a second invasive breast cancer requiring surgery, chemotherapy and radiation brought a new perspective to her healing process. In 1998 Marie started a cancer support group in her office, which then moved to the Adirondack Medical Center conference room and continues today.

Her personal experience as a cancer survivor led her to become an active volunteer and fundraiser in Relay for Life (American Cancer Society) in the Tri-Lakes. For over 10 years, Marie was the survivor’s chairperson. She contacted, encouraged, and signed up survivors and those going through cancer to attend the relay and be honored. (Cogar’s initial relay walk in Burlington, Vt., was immediately after her first chemo treatment.) As participants, many cancer survivors shared their stories of hope and helped set up fundraising events out of Marie’s home.

Cogar is also one of the founding members of the Saranac Lake Young Arts Association and was a board member of ArtWorks for 10 years. She is an artist with her own fused glass business and sings in the Northern Lights Choir. Creative Healing Connections invites you to celebrate her story of hope and enjoy a whimsical wonderland at Mad Hatter’s Ball.

Attendees are encouraged to wear their best crazy hats and join an evening of fun including a raffle, hors d’oeuvres, drinks, and prizes for best hats. The evening will also feature live music with Jeff Balerno, local musician, and free caricatures with artist Joe Ferris. Tickets are $80 per person and can be purchased online at https://creativehealingconnections.org/events. All proceeds from the event support wellness retreats for women veterans and women suffering from cancer or chronic illness.

Creative Healing Connections held two retreats in 2024; a two-day veterans retreat at The Inn on Piseco Lake in the spring and an arts and healing multi-day retreat at Saranac Village on Upper Saranac Lake in the fall. The annual retreats enable participants to experience the energizing benefits of creative arts and form connections with others who have shared experiences.

Creative Healing Connections, a nonprofit established in 1998, provides creative healing experiences for people seeking comfort and support on their wellness journey. For more information about Creative Healing Connections visit us at www.creativehealingconnections.org.