The Valley Medical Center (VMC) is planning a free conference on cancer as a turning point in people’s lives Oct. 3.

The full-day conference aims to differentiate between curing the body and healing the person and to explore illness as an awakening with transformative potential.

Through the day, speakers aim to rekindle hope and motivation to live fully in the present, to rediscover the healing capacity of the human spirit and to facilitate healing from within as an essential component of total health.

Stories, music and laughter, group support, diet and nutrition will be incorporated into the program.

Presenting at the conference will be author, minister and therapist Wayne Muller; Jonna Tomases, actress and three-time cancer survivor; nutritionist and author Kimberly Mathai; singer and songwriter Shaina Noll, and One World Taiko, a professional Japanese drum ensemble.

VMC is hosting the conference in cooperation with Seattle Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center, and Healing Journeys, a nonprofit organization.

For more information or to register call 800-423-9882, or visit www.healingjourneys.org.