Mother Of Cancer Survivor Creates Outdoor Camp For Cancer Patients

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DENVER (CBS4) - A cancer diagnosis changes a life and the lives loved ones -- and CBS4's Gloria Neal met with a business owner who turned the heartbreak of cancer into hope.

"It rocked his world, it rocked our world and he went through a very dark spot about a year after going through all his treatments," Nancy Ferro said.

What rocked Ferro's world was her son Mike's diagnosis of testicular cancer back in 2007.

"So it was tough. There are a lot of issues young people deal with, fertility, relationships; just the fear of dying at the age of 23 years old. It's a lot to take in," Ferro said.

That's why Ferro started the camp called "Epic Experience." It offers a free week-long outdoor experience to individuals who have been diagnosed with cancer.

"Epic was really just started with the premise of going forward, getting people out, doing something that maybe they haven't done before," she said.

Experiences are be based upon outdoor adventure activities such as kayaking, horseback riding and paddle boarding. There are winter activities as well. And even though her son's cancer is in remission, Ferro never stops thinking about it.

"He just had to go in for tests this week for something and there were precancerous cells, so it's something, you know, my son is going to have to deal with for his whole life."

Even though Lance Armstrong has fallen from grace in the minds of many she still appreciates the hope Armstrong gave her son when he was being treated for testicular cancer.

"The goal is to give hope … to give hope back in life … I don't need to sit here and be afraid."

LINK: EpicExperience.org