Looking for a supportive survivorship community that understands life after treatment? Are you still figuring out how to navigate follow-up care, long-term effects, or simply wanting to connect with others who get it?
This is tailored for you and your supporters!
● Program Overview
What You’ll Learn
Are you stepping into the world of survivorship? Join us in exploring how survivors can transform into thrivers and, how they can join a movement to fill the gap of uncertainty and unknowns after treatment is finished with knowledge and support from medical experts, community partners, and other thrivers.
Day Event
Nov 8th, 2026
Registration Opens
June 2026
Program Structure
Event programming is designed to allow participants to discover information and tools they need to feel equipped and educated for a thriving future, at their own pace. With some scheduled engagements and other freestanding activities, participants can pick and choose which parts they want to take part in and be part of a communal lunch where they can mingle with other attendees and exhibitors. small groups that allow for plenty of individual attention. The schedule changes year to year to allow for variety in topics and activities.
What’s Included
Registration for this event includes a Thrive Fest t-shirt and access to a full day of information, expert presentations, engagements, and networking with other survivors-turned-thrivers. Your free ticket also includes several nutritious and delicious meal and beverage options throughout the day.
Session Lengths
Session lengths range from 20 min to 45 min depending on the talk or engagement. We aim to alternate between expert talks and engagements so there are mental breaks in between presentations and participants can actively enjoy themselves while learning and taking in much needed information.
Participant Age Groups
Programs are designed for survivors ages 12 and up, with talks tailored for mainly AYA (adolescent and young adult) as suggested by our medical staff. Survivors younger than this are able to attend with parental consent, as well as parents who may want to come on behalf of their child who may still be undergoing treatment and who want to gather knowledge on what they can expect/ how to receive support.
● Thrive Life
Sample Day Event Itinerary
Check-in & Welcome
10:00 amKeynote Speaker
10:45 AMBreakout Session A
11-11:50 AmLunch & Community Time
12-1:00 PMNutrition Talk & Cooking Demo
1-2:00 PMBreakout Session B
2-2:30 PMBreakout Session C
2:40-3:10 PMSurvivor Panel
3:20-3:45 PMRaffle Winner Announcement & Closing
3:45-4 pmMeet the Key Leaders
Grisell & Lana
Co-founders & co-hostsMerging their perspectives in medicine and survivorship, Grisell and Lana bring their dream vision to life by working together to address a vital gap post-treatment and empower thrivers.
Lambros Katsoufis
event assistantAs the backbone to every UOTS program, Lambros provides key logistical support and assistance in organizing and keeping our team ahead of the biggest event of the year.
Cynthia & Gwen
Social media crewAs campers-turned-counselors (and now besties), Cynthia and Gwen spark creative promotional energy by cooking up new ways to effectively bring exposure to this one-of-a-kind event.
● Program Overview
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Our team views survivorship as what many hospitals state is the beginning of the journey—two years out from cancer treatment. While some consider it to begin once a diagnosis is made, we welcome all definitions and respect that each journey is unique.
-
We welcome all contributing members of a thriver’s story—including siblings, caregivers, spouses/ partners, and supporters (e.g., additional friends and family, medical support staff, etc.).
-
We invite attendees to dress in “cute and comfortable” wear, and can match with our theme. We typically share these details closer to the event date, through our Eventbrite page and social media updates. Please make sure to follow us and sign up for our new newsletter to receive these updates.
-
The event location for 2026 will be at Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden in Coral Gables, FL and will take place on Sunday, November 8th this year.
If you are interested in transportartion assistance, please notify our team as soon as possible by emailing thrivefest@campuots.org. If we gather enough interest, we will be looking into a shuttle system to pickup/ drop-off families from outside counties.
-
If you are looking to partner and/or offer in-kind services for Thrive Fest, please share your ideas with us by emailing thrivefest@campuots.org.
We will be releasing our sponsorship package soon, and will be sharing these details through our social media pages and newsletter as well. Please follow us to stay up to date!
