We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lauren Daniels. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lauren below.

Lauren, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

I always felt that I was meant to do something growing up but I had a hard time connecting to what this actually was. It wasn’t until I was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 35 that I was brought to my life’s work by starting the non profit organization the Happily Ever After League in 2004.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 35 in 2004. At the time of my diagnosis, my children ranged in age from one to 11. I realized very quickly how challenging getting through cancer recovery would be with three young children. Just six months after I was diagnosed, I decided that I wanted to start a nonprofit organization to support mothers going through cancer recovery. On the one-year anniversary of my diagnosis, we had our very first charity event and raised $50,000. We begin giving out gift cards to newly diagnosed mothers to help offset the very expensive price tag that comes with cancer.
We help mothers, whether single, or married, with any type of cancer, with at least one dependent child living at home.
The Happily Ever After League provides financial assistance with medications, co payments and gas to and from treatment.
Ongoing support is offered through back to school drives, holiday gifts and farmer’s market days at our Healing Farm. We have some very important volunteers, our directors of emotional support including a mini pig named Lord Hamilton, mini horses Butch and Chance and mini donkeys Louie and Diego.
I’m personally grateful that we have kept our goal of never turning away a qualifying mom in need for the past 19 years.

Have you ever had to pivot?

During the pandemic, we had to adjust our sails and find ways to continue supporting our moms and their families. Prior to the pandemic, we had gatherings for moms and their families, and since they are in a compromised state, we were no longer able to do that beginning in March 2020.
We found ways to continue to provide ongoing support with a drive thru format handing out anything from school supplies and back packs to gift cards and holiday presents for our families to enjoy. Cancer did not stop during the pandemic and we were determined to find ways to continue our support.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Receiving a cancer diagnosis at the young age of 35 was not ideal. I do have family history on both sides, and it was not something that I thought would never happen, however, I certainly did not expect it in the midst of raising young children. I had to have three surgeries and a four month span of time, luckily, my early diagnosis did not require chemotherapy or radiation treatment. There were many challenging days during my recovery. I was not even able to lift my baby for months after my surgeries.
This all changed when I put my focus on helping others through the Happily Ever After League. It is no wonder the acronym is HEAL, it certainly has been a tremendous part of my healing process.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.happilyeverafterleague.org
• Instagram: @happilyeverafterleague
• Facebook: Happily Ever After League
• Linkedin: Lauren Daniels

Image Credits
Colleen Katz, Pictures in Pixels AZ Karianne Munstedt