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AAA Central Penn and Highmark Caring Place Team-up

Healing Through Nature and Travel workshop to assist grieving families to be held on May 4, 2016

HARRISBURG (April 28, 2016) — The Highmark Caring Place announced today that it will host a travel-focused workshop, free and open to the public, to help grieving families with the healing process on May 4, 2016 at 6 p.m. Held at the Highmark Caring Place in Lemoyne, Pa., the workshop, titled Healing Through Nature and Travel, will feature a number of experts including AAA Travel, which recently launched a Solo Travelers Club with the specific purpose of connecting like-minded travel enthusiasts who do not have a travel companion.

"After the death of someone important to us, many aspects of normal life become much more complicated, both emotionally and practically," explained Terese Vorsheck, director of the Highmark Caring Place. "And that includes travel and vacations. Although travel can be wonderful in many ways, memories of past vacations can't help but color aspects of new vacations, making the experience bittersweet. And traveling as a single individual in a couples-oriented world can be jarring for those who have gotten used to years of journeying with a companion. That's what makes this workshop so important — it will start a discussion on how to best accommodate grieving individuals that can benefit from support and encouragement during this time."

Director of Marketing and Public Relations at AAA Central Penn Shawn C. Kaup added, "A Buffalo, New York-based pilot of the Solo Travelers Club found that while there is a growing community of solo travelers looking for the fun, peace of mind and convenience of group travel, many participants were also navigating the grieving process. The Solo Travelers Club also provides the financial benefit of not paying the increased single occupancy fees often associated with traveling alone on cruise ships and land tours. We are also working with the Highmark Caring Place to develop grief training for our Solo Travelers Club tour guides so that they will be prepared to understand and support travelers."

Additionally, the workshop will include local authors Brenda Lee Sieglitz of Widow Voyages and Michael Gingerich and Thomas Kaden from Someone to Tell it To — both organizations that specialize in helping individuals cope with the process of grief and healing. Workshop participants can also expect to learn tips and gain travel advice on how to plan safely for their next adventure, connect with other solo travelers and engage in conversation about potential travel locations and activities.

"This truly is a win-win collaboration," said Kaup. "The AAA brand has symbolized safety, security and helping people in need for more than a century. By teaming-up with the Highmark Caring Place, we are able to further the mission of both of organizations and ultimately strengthen our community."

To register for Healing Through Nature and Travel, RSVP to michelle.haubert@highmark.com or call 717-302-8411 by May 2, 2016.

Contact:

David Misner
Highmark Health
717-302-3638
david.misner@highmarkhealth.org

Shawn Kaup
AAA Central Penn
717-214-1736
skaup@aaacp.com