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Three to be honored at Noble Circle Luncheon

Recipients use healing therapies to help cancer survivors.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Sharee Laine doing a Reiki session.

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By Meredith Moss, Staff Writer 12:38 PM Saturday, February 4, 2012

Three area women who regularly share their knowledge of integrative healing therapies with cancer survivors will be honored at the Noble Circle Project’s annual luncheon and fashion show on Saturday, Feb. 25, at the Sinclair Conference Center in downtown Dayton.

The nonprofit organization will hold its ninth annual “A Wear Affair” fundraiser with fashions provided by three area shops: The Secret Ingredient in Kettering, Get Dressed! in Oakwood, and Joli Boutique in Centerville. This year’s theme is “Walk on the Wild Side... With the Noble Circle Sisters.”

Cancer “thrivers” will take the runway to model inspiration and hope as well as pretty spring clothing. Last year, 700 attended.

More than 200 women have spent a weekend at a Noble Circle retreat since the group was founded in 2003. The idea is to teach complementary therapies that promote healing. Following the retreat, participants continue their education with a 10-week series of wellness programs that focus on nutrition, exercise and peer support. Thanks to the annual fundraiser, everything is free of charge for participants.

Over the years, the women being honored this year have contributed their time and talents to the project. They are:

Debra Weisenburger Lipetz, a certified Qigong instructor;

Sharee Laine, who practices Reiki; and

Cynthia Pompilio, a massage therapist.

Pompilio, who lives in Bellbrook, was asked to provide chair massages at the first Noble Circle retreat in 2004 and has been volunteering her services to the organization ever since. She’s the only practitioner to have been a part of all 16 retreats for new members.

She accepted the original invitation, she says, because it “moved me out of my box into a fresh group of women who I knew nothing about.”

“Not all people who have encountered an illness have access to such a group,” Pompilio says, adding that she hopes to help spread Noble Circle services to others who may feel isolated by their illnesses.

One of Pompilio’s nominators, psychologist Irma Johnson, describes Pompilio as “beautiful, skillful, loving, caring, warm and serene.”

“Cynthia has touched our Noble Circle sisters physically, through her skillful massage work, but primarily she has touched us spiritually, with her love,” Johnson says.

Reiki, a touching form of healing that originated in Japan, is designed to promote stress reduction and relaxation.

“The first time Sharee performed Reiki on me it was a totally new and different experience, I didn’t know what to expect or what would happen,” recalls Caryn Williams of Englewood, who nominated Laine for her award. “She laid her hands on my head and I felt a calmness overcome me. Her hands got very warm. She touched different places on my body. And the warmth traveled with her hands.”

An integral part of the group since 2004, Laine leads drumming sessions and has used crystal singing bowls to demonstrate the healing effect that vibrations have on the body.

“I remain involved because I’m helping but more importantly it feeds my soul,” she adds. “I receive unlimited joy helping and sharing with them, it makes my life better.”

Since 1996, Lipetz has practiced Qigong, a Chinese technique that involves breathing, movement, and meditation. She studied at Huaxia Qigong Hospital and Training Center in Qinhuangdao, China.

“Have you ever met someone with whom you instantly felt an aura of calmness, compassion, deep spirituality, caring and healing?” asked Sharon Gitman, who nominated Lipetz for the award. “She is always willing to teach, mentor, counsel and work with those in need of self-healing.”

Lipetz, who has also been involved with Noble Circle since its inception, says she finds the women of Noble Circle to be refreshing and that she continues to learn as much from them as they have from her.

“I fell in love with Noble Circle’s mission,” she says. “It fits perfectly with my own life’s purpose. I am extremely honored and proud to be involved with a community of strong, powerful women, integrating mind, body and spirit to thrive beyond life’s challenges.”

Contact this reporter at  (937) 225-2440 or  MMoss@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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