Cogar is a two-time cancer survivor who has, among other volunteer efforts, been running the Circles of Life cancer support group for 27 years and fundraising for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life out of her home in Harrietstown. She attributes the support group’s success to its members and their dedication.

Cogar moved to the Adirondacks from rural Wisconsin in 1981. Just a few months later, she was diagnosed with invasive cancer. Far from her family, she got support from her community. She got the news on a Sunday, when she couldn’t call a doctor,s so she called St. Bernard’s Church’s Father C. J. McAvoy.

In 1996, Cogar was diagnosed with a second invasive breast cancer requiring surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Two years later, she started a cancer support group in her therapy office. A man in her church choir whose wife also had cancer came to her and asked if she’d be able to facilitate a support group. The group then moved to the Adirondack Medical Center conference room and continues online today, meeting every Monday at 2 p.m.

Connection is important for health, Cogar said — are all important for mental and physical well-being. CHC Trustee Minda Briaddy said the worst disease in U.S. is loneliness. Two years ago, the U.S. Surgeon General declared loneliness a public health epidemic and said it is as deadly as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day.

Marie Cogar (Provided photo)

Briaddy said when she was diagnosed with stage IV melanoma in January 2020, her life took

Briaddy said.

Cancer impacts many parts of life, she said — health, finances, sex life, relationships, work, faith. At the support group meetings, they talk about all of it. Cogar said people need to feel their chronic illness is not the and that they are not alone. Connecting with others can allow people to find freedom in what feels like a death sentence, she said.

Cogar said having cancer involves mourning loss. When she had her second cancer, she couldn’t hike the High Peaks anymore. It was hard to just push herself to walk around the block. She was in her 30s and after a hysterectomy she couldn’t have kids. Cogar comes from a big family. But her siblings have given her godchildren. Talking with other people to know she wasn’t alone, giving back, creating art and remembering how to relish life was helpful.

Cogar maintains connections with local oncologists, who can recommend the support group to their patients. For a while, she said a local doctor at Adirondack Medical Center offered her office for meetings. The group of around 10 has met online since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Cougar said they can help members get access to computers with webcams, if they don’t have one.

To join the group, email her at mkcogar@roadrunner.com.

Cogar became an avid volunteer and fundraiser for Relay for Life events around the Tri-Lakes, serving as the survivor’s chairperson for more than a decade. Her job was to contact and sign up cancer survivors and people actively going through cancer and have them be honored at the relays.

She gave credit to members of her support group for helping her in this job. She said she always works with a team.

Cogar did her first Relay for Life in Burlington, Vermont immediately after her first chemotherapy treatment in 1996. Her nurse was part of a group and invited her.

Cogar said.

Cogar is a licensed family therapist and fought for years for New York to have a family therapy license.

Cogar is also one of the founding members of the Saranac Lake Young Arts Association and was a board member of Saranac Lake ArtWorks for 10 years. She’s passionate about the arts, saying that creativity and expression are important for the healing process. Personally, she sings in the Northern Lights Choir and fuses glass in kilns at her home studio.

Cogar said she loves to be involved. It’s gratifying to help people the way they have helped her. She’s also raised money for Ukraine with her husband John.

The Mad Hatter’s Ball is a night of music, food and mad hats. It will be held on March 29 at 5 p.m. at the Hotel Saranac Great Hall.

Attendees are encouraged to wear their best crazy hats. Cogar is excited to attend because she’ll be in charge of judging the best hats for prizes. There will be a raffle, hors d’oeuvres and drinks. Local musician Jeff Balerno will play and local artist Joe Ferris will do free caricatures.

Briaddy, who was the guest of honor several years ago, said the ball was one of best nights of her life. She said she felt so much love and support in the room.

Tickets cost $80 and can be purchased online at creativehealingconnections.org/events. All proceeds from the event support wellness retreats for women veterans and women suffering from cancer or chronic illness.

The Mad Hatter’s Ball is Creative Healing Connections’ biggest annual fundraiser, raising scholarship money so more women can participate in CHC’s retreats.

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. It has upcoming retreats in Piseco Lake on May 30 and on Upper Saranac Lake on Oct. 10.

At the retreats, wellness professionals, psychologists and CHC leaders lead attendees in dance, yoga and stretches sessions, essential oils instruction, journaling and artistic creation through music and physical mediums.

Cogar moved to Saranac Lake in the 1980s to work at the YoungLife camp. Now, she’ll be attending the CHC retreat there.

Briaddy said.

There are a lot of wellness retreats — most are not affordable. CHC focuses on women who don’t have the means to participate in these programs. They’ve had women who were homeless attend the retreats. The majority of their attendees need a scholarship of some sort to attend. Half need a full scholarship.

The annual retreats enable participants to experience the energizing benefits of creative arts and form connections with others who have shared experiences.

CHC was founded 1998 by Fran Yardley and Naj Wikoff. Details about the organizations’ upcoming retreats can be found at creativehealingconnections.org/retreats.