When the chance to join a cancer support group came up, Tampon was drawn to it after being told that its members do more than talk. They engage in horticultural therapy.

Sponsored by the Pacific Cancer Foundation, a group of four to six cancer patients have been getting together for four months now to do something creative and productive with plants.

That same horticultural therapy group is about to get a boost after the foundation announced a new partnership it's made with the Maui Family YMCA to set up more space for more activities.

In its first month of operation in October, the foundation's horticultural therapy group decorated pumpkins. Most recently, they made ornaments out of plant materials, including dried roses, for a Christmas tree that was sold during a foundation fundraiser.

Inevitably, the cancer patients talk to each other about their struggles to cope with the illness, learning that they're not alone and taking comfort from people with similar experiences while engaging in something productive.

"I'm not much of a plant person," Tampon said, "but I do enjoy being with the group. And I see others enjoying it, too. They must enjoy it too, because if they didn't, they wouldn't come."

Approached by the cancer foundation, the YMCA has agreed to provide space and help build four separate plant plots that will be used by the horticultural therapy support group. The foundation obtained a private $6,000 grant that will also help with costs.

One of the plant beds will be designated for vegetable growing, another for herbs and another for flowers. The purpose of the fourth has yet to be decided.

"The patients are real excited about it," said Pacific Cancer Foundation Executive Director Amy Kastens.

Maui YMCA Chief Executive Officer Mike Morris said the partnership with the cancer foundation aligns with the YMCA's national attempts to meet the growing needs of the millions of Americans who want to have more healthy lifestyles.

Earlier this month, an Associated Press story featured the YMCA's attempts to expand health-related initiatives, notably through a program called Activate America.

The idea is to redesign and revise activities to better serve people who find it hard to stick with weight-loss and fitness regimens.

"This is just another part of that," Morris said of the new partnership his organization is forming with the Pacific Cancer Foundation.

Morris said the YMCA recognizes that it needs to listen more to its clients and do what it can to support people's interests, including cancer patients who want to get outside and grow plants, not necessarily go to a gym and get a workout.

"Even if they don't come in to exercise, they're at least outside gardening and that's healthy," Morris said.

"I think it's a great collaboration between the two nonprofits," said Dr. Heather Haines, an internal medicine physician and chairwoman of the Pacific Cancer Foundation's programs committee.

"It's a nice place where they feel safe to talk about their illnesses," Haines said.

She said talking about cancer while being productive in some sort of activity helps to treat the patient. "In my mind, it's an absolutely necessary part of the process."

Haines said patients told her and the foundation that they weren't interested in round-table discussions and preferred they be engaged in activities.

Kastens said the foundation is interested in organizing other types of activity-based support groups.

The project for the horticultural therapy group is expected to be in full force by March.

Patients interested in learning more about the group or the Pacific Cancer Foundation should call 808-243-2999.