NORWAY — In advance of a training session scheduled for February in Norway, community members who have experience with cancer are invited to apply to become a volunteer with the Maine Buddy Program.

Anyone who is a cancer survivor, has been a friend or caregiver to someone with cancer or lost a loved one to cancer may apply. The program is especially interested in potential volunteers from the Western Maine region.

The training will be held on Saturday, Feb. 21, at the Harper Conference Center in the Ripley Medical Building.

The Maine Buddy Program is a statewide service that pairs trained volunteers with individuals who are dealing with cancer in their lives — either through their own illness or the cancer diagnosis of a friend or family member. Buddies provide emotional support, hope and encouragement to help individuals move through their own or a loved one’s cancer journey or grief process. Molly Stewart, MSW, Mission Services Director at the Cancer Community Center in South Portland provides training, supervision and support for program volunteers.

Stewart is pleased to be offering a volunteer Buddy training in the Oxford Hills region. “Members of this community expressed a need for more support for people affected by cancer,” said Stewart. “They reached out to the Cancer Community Center and we are happy to partner with the local community to expand the Maine Buddy Program in the Oxford Hills region.”

Anyone interested in applying to be a volunteer Maine Buddy can contact Molly Stewart at the Cancer Community Center, either by phone at 774-2200 or by email at [email protected]. Volunteer applications are available online at CancerCommunityCenter.org.

The Cancer Community Center is a place where people with cancer, their families and friends can come together in a comfortable, caring setting to build social and emotional support. All programs are offered at no charge to participants and are made possible by the generosity of the community.