About TTT
HOW IT ALL BEGAN…
In July of 2005, TTT President Anne Tonachel was diagnosed with late-stage ovarian cancer and several years later attended an ovarian cancer retreat at Camp Mak-A-Dream in Montana. At that time, it was the only retreat in the country where women could meet with other women who were in various stages of active disease or remission.
On the long plane trip back to Boston, Anne committed herself to creating a similar experience for women living in New England. In 2009 she met Robin Bray, another ovarian cancer survivor who had also attended Camp Mak-a-Dream. They both realized they had the same goal of establishing a regional retreat. By 2012, with 30 women in attendance, the first Turning the Tide Ovarian Cancer Retreat was held at Camp Kieve in Nobleboro, Maine. Sadly, Robin died within months of their first retreat but their shared vision continues.
While the retreat is only five days long, the effects are lasting. The bounty of spirit, generosity, and love that the women find in each other during their time together sustains them throughout the year. It is strengthened by zoom meetings moderated by TTT members which include sharing of challenges and achievements, current cancer issues, and occasional informational sessions with invited speakers.
Today, Turning the Tide Ovarian Cancer Retreats, Inc. is one of only a handful of organizations in the U.S., and the only one in New England that offers a yearly retreat that provides emotional support, counseling in self-advocacy, and education for women with ovarian cancer. Since 2012, TTT has created a safe, nurturing, and sustaining environment where women living with ovarian cancer are offered hope, comfort, friendship, and education.
In 2018, TTT became incorporated as a 501c3 non-profit organization.
TTT BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT - Anne Tonachel
Anne is the founder and president of Turning the Tide Ovarian Cancer Retreats. After being diagnosed with stage IIIc ovarian cancer in 2005, Anne recognized a need for women with the disease to be part of a community in New England. Anne enjoyed a long a career as an early childhood educator. She also worked with Hospitality Homes and as a hospice volunteer for many years. She volunteers weekly at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and serves as a patient advocate for cancer-focused scientific review boards. Anne and Dick, her husband of 60+ years, are grateful to have three outstanding children and their spouses, seven remarkable grandchildren, and one wonderful great-granddaughter.
TREASURER - Margaret Mastrangelo
Margaret Mastrangelo worked as a nurse practitioner in adult medicine until her diagnosis of Stage IIIC ovarian cancer in 2015 and has been in remission since her treatment ended. She is now back to working per diem in hospice and also serves on her town’s Board of Health. She has also participated on a national level as a consumer advocate to help award research grants in the area of ovarian cancer at the Department of Defense. In her spare time, she loves to bike, hike and travel.
DIRECTOR - Melissa Tonachel
Melissa, a long time early childhood educator, is a member of the Department of Early Childhood at the Boston Public Schools, where she is primarily responsible for curriculum development, professional learning, and advocacy for PreK-second grade education. As Anne’s daughter, she has been involved withTurning the Tide since its inception. In 2018, Melissa began attending the retreat to help with providing responsive food and drink, facilitate community-building activities, and offer any other support needed. She joined the Board in 2022.
DIRECTOR - Kim Shamah
Kim previously worked as an Admissions Coordinator at an Architecture School in Boston, and at Lesley College in the Employment Office where she worked while earning her Masters degree in Education. She then worked as a Kindergarten Teacher for 10 years, during which she took time off to raise her four children with her husband. She was diagnosed with Ovarian cancer in 2013 and was fortunate to find Turning the Tide as a Retreat attendee soon after completing 22 weeks of chemotherapy at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. She joined the TTT Board of Directors in 2024.
DIRECTOR - Christine Barilone
Christine previously worked as a Human Resources generalist and an elementary school classroom assistant. She volunteered for the parent teacher association and served as a board member for the school music association when her two children were in school. Christine was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2013. She joined the TTT Board in 2018.
DIRECTOR - Charlene Galarneau
Charlene teaches, researches, and writes about ethics and US health policy as faculty at Harvard Medical School and faculty emerita at Wellesley College. She is also a certified tai chi instructor and in 2023, taught tai chi at her first Retreat. In 2024, Charlene also facilitated Retreat writing groups and joined the TTT Board.
DIRECTOR - Donna Wiegle
Donna Wiegle is a stage IV ovarian cancer patient. She was diagnosed in April 2016. Donna started a health center in 2007 on a small island off the coast of Maine where she lives. She is an active volunteer EMT in her community. Donna is passionate about raising awareness about ovarian cancer and helping women become better advocates for themselves. She rode her teal and white Harley motorcycle across the US in 2019 on her Teal on Wheels Tour to raise awareness about ovarian cancer. Donna has been attending the Turning the Tide Retreat since 2016 and she joined the TTT Board in 2024.