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(CNN) — In the year When their sister Maria died of breast cancer in 2019, Alicia and Esther Tambe decided to honor her in a way that truly covered her.
Through their research, they became even more committed to finding ways to help black women living with breast cancer as well as breast cancer survivors, incorporating one of their late sister’s greatest passions — travel.
Support healing
Esther and Alicia Tambe in Lisbon, Portugal, with their sister Maria (right), who died of breast cancer in 2019.
Courtesy Esther Tambe
Alicia and Esther Tambe describe their sister as a “frequent flyer,” and getting on planes and visiting new destinations, as well as attending regular Zumba classes, played a big role in keeping her spirits up.
The three have traveled together over the years, visiting European countries such as Portugal, and these remain their most treasured memories of Maria.
“Working together is something we love and think we’ll do for the rest of our lives,” says Alicia Tambe.
The fight for flights started during the covid-19 pandemic, so the couple had to be creative when designing their first accommodation, because “it wasn’t safe for everyone to go out together”.
For those who can’t leave their homes or are uncomfortable with their vacation experience, the women decided to focus on individually tailored programs by creating Staycation Serenity. “It’s enough to drive or drive somewhere close to home, but to escape your daily routine.”
The programs, which come with virtual therapy sessions, personal training and nutrition sessions, aim to provide a break from the daily stress of the disease and “a chance to heal and get away from it all.”
“We see it as an escape,” says chef Esther Tambe.
“For people who were traveling before a breast cancer diagnosis, it’s a reminder to continue doing the things that bring them joy, and for others, it’s a way to open new hopes for happiness and new experiences in their lives during the diagnosis.”
Alicia and Esther Tambe said they made an early decision to include breast cancer survivors and “feel honored.”
Bond experience
“Sometimes you can’t meet your milestones,” says Alicia Tambe. “You can go into survival, but you’re always living in ‘what if’ or ‘what if’.
“And I think that’s the hardest adjustment to go back to your normal job. You’re a new person, no matter what, it’s important to explore your new identity.”
It’s also an opportunity for survivors to tell their stories and keep the flow of information and hope going, says Esther Tambe.
In the year In 2021, breast cancer survivor Dr. Alexa Gaffney Adams participated in the Family Matters Leadership Recovery by Flights program open to leaders of Black women’s breast cancer organizations in Belize.
In the year After being diagnosed in 2018 and undergoing a double mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, Adams decided to apply after seeing the program online.
“Before I got sick, I had big plans in my personal life to travel a lot,” she told CNN Travel. “And the pandemic immediately followed that, so travel was off the table for me.”
For Adams, the trip to Belize was not only an opportunity to travel again, but also a chance to bond with other black women who had or had gone through similar experiences.
Esther and Alicia founded a non-profit organization in 2020.
Dotun Ayodeji Photography
“Once you have breast cancer, you feel like it affects everything,” she says. “So we were talking about dating and relationships. These are conversations you can’t have with someone who doesn’t have experience.”
She describes it as a great gift to take time for herself without feeling like it’s “taking away from everything else.”
“I was able to travel guilt-free,” Adams adds. “I was able to rest, recharge, rejuvenate and heal without being a burden to my family or friends.”
While massaging, meditating, hiking, swimming with sharks, snorkeling, and doing morning yoga, a group of women worked together to come up with ideas for their upcoming fight on a flight retreat.
“It was everything I wanted and more,” she says. “So I’m grateful to have had this experience and to continue this career in the fight for flight.”
Adams stressed that her treatment is ongoing — she is currently on hormone suppression therapy and also receives monthly injections to reduce the risk of recurrence.
“People think you’re done because you’re done with chemo and radiation and your hair grows back, not you,” she says. The battle is just beginning.
Since returning from the trip to Belize, she has kept in touch with the other women who participated, and is grateful to have been able to form strong bonds with women who have had similar experiences.
More than 75 women have participated in Fight Through Flights programs, all of which are app-based, Alicia and Esther Tambe said, adding that they are interested in adding more programs to the roster.
Creating new memories
Esther and Alicia said the prospect of travel and adventure helped raise their sister’s spirits.
Dotun Ayodeji Photography
“We’re very thankful, because this could happen to anybody,” Alicia Tambe said. “And it’s very unusual to see how everyone deals with breast cancer in their lifetime.
“We left the retreat and we all really left the sisterhood.”
Both said they learned a lot from the people they met through the organization, and being able to talk to these women about their struggles with breast cancer helped them navigate the grieving process.
“We see parts of her [Maria] Through many women — they share some of the same interests,” says Esther Tambe.
“And knowing that through it all we were still able to meet others and help them heal on their journey was such a rewarding experience.”
In the three years since Maria’s death, Alicia and Esther Tambe have continued to travel with their families and recently visited Grenada and El Salvador.
Although the dynamics are different now, they hold their sister’s memories close, and are very grateful to be able to embark on new travel adventures and experiences together.
“We really appreciate the travel time,” Alicia Tambe said.
“But I think it’s just about making new memories and seeing where life takes you.”
Top image: Courtesy of Alec Adam Tzull
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