Today we’d like to introduce you to Robin Lee.
Robin, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I retired from UC San Francisco in 2022, where I had worked for over 20 years as a hereditary cancer genetic counselor. My focus was on working with under-resourced patients. As a lifelong equestrian, I found my zen with animals in nature, and I wanted to provide a space where individuals with cancer (at any stage through their journey) and caregivers could find a place to quiet their minds and live in the moment. Going through cancer, most individuals are focused on what comes next or what will be, which inhibits their ability to live in the moment.
Both of my daughters settled in Southern California, and one of them, Olivia, was excited about joining me in this endeavor. Together, we searched the LA area and found a perfect and magical spot in the high desert outside of Santa Clarita, in the small town of Agua Dulce. Our glorious ranch is 25 acres, and since moving to the property, we have rescued two pigs, two horses, three goats, and two donkeys. The ranch and nonprofit are managed by me, my daughter, Olivia Blue, and her partner, Jacob Nichols.
Now in our third year of operation. We aim to serve the cancer community through animal therapy and mindfulness in nature. Our retreats are open and free of charge for anyone affected by cancer and those who care for them. Our events focus on providing support for under-resourced individuals, offering them integrative care —a key component of cancer healing, wellness, and recovery.
Our typical half-day retreat offers activities that foster mindfulness and connection to oneself, nature, animals, and one another. Our retreats include free time with the animals, hikes with the goats, breath work with the horses, yoga and meditation, and a healthy community meal. We host these events monthly, keeping them small (with 25 participants) and intimate.
Reducing barriers to access programming at Press Paws is an essential part of our mission. As a result, the organization provides transportation and language support to those who need it. This is especially important in the greater LA area, which is large geographically, as well as being economically and culturally diverse.
The demand for our events has grown; currently, events fill up as soon as they are announced, which reinforces the need for animal therapy in the cancer community.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road has been relatively smooth. We were very thoughtful about how we wanted to structure the nonprofit and what our mission and vision were. The biggest struggle has been raising funds to offer the free retreats. I have extensive fundraising experience, but I have never led a fundraising effort of this nature. We initially attempted to raise funds through direct donor letters and events. Our events were fun; we held goat yoga, a few movie nights, and open houses, but the funds raised didn’t match the effort that we put into the events.
Over the past few seasons, we’ve been fortunate enough to receive several grants and generous donations from individuals passionate about the cause. We are always looking for new donors and ways to support our cause financially!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As I mentioned, my background is in genetic counseling. For the majority of my career, I worked at UC San Francisco, providing care to individuals and families who carried hereditary cancer genes. These families have a significantly increased risk for cancer, compared to the general population, and cancers often occur at very young ages, before cancer screening is routinely done. I have been a licensed genetic counselor since 1985, which was long before we had genetic testing for hereditary cancer genes. As a result, I saw the development and growth of genetic testing. The impact of genetic testing has revolutionized care for cancer, among many other hereditary diseases. As genetic testing improved, I was struck by the widening disparities in care; communities of means had access to these scientific breakthroughs, while uninsured and underinsured individuals had none or minimal access to genetic testing. To help address this issue on a local level, I helped establish the first free service in San Francisco that offered genetic counseling and testing for hereditary cancer. My academic work at that time focused on developing effective methods for delivering genetic counseling to under-resourced and non-English-speaking communities.
In 2016, I started my first nonprofit, Nova12SF. This is a 12-mile walk across San Francisco. The 12-mile route represents 12% of women who develop breast cancer.. The walk route and messaging spotlight the deep health and wealth disparities within San Francisco. This highlights the fact that a zip code can be just as influential a risk factor as the genetic code. Over 90% of the funds raised from the walk are allocated to under-resourced patients in the form of gift cards, direct cash grants, and other direct services. www.nova-12-sf.org.
After retirement, I moved to LA to start my second nonprofit, Press Paws Ranch Retreat. While my primary focus is on Press Paws, I continue to organize the Nova12SF walk, which takes place each October during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
What were you like growing up?
I have always been very outgoing. My family moved frequently, so I changed schools often and became skilled at making new friends. My primary home was in Arcata, CA. As an adult, I raised my family in San Francisco, but at my core, I have always been a small-town girl, most comfortable in nature and around animals. I was a horseback rider for most of my life, so I was eager to return to my country roots upon retirement, but with 13 animals to care for, I don’t know how “retired” I am!
Pricing:
- Events are free to anyone affected by cancer and those who care for those affected by cancer.
- We do not charge for events that are open to the public, but do encourage donations
- Private events are available, price depends on the activity.
- Merchandise is priced fro $30 – $50
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.presspawsrr.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/presspawsranch/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/presspawsrr
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@presspaws
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@presspawsranch
