Help Lisa on Her Cancer Journey

Lisa Afshar has been an important part of the Ashland community for the past  11 years and has played many roles. 

She started out in Ashland as a midwife helping bring new life and love to local families.  Later, she transitioned into bookselling and bought the Ashland Book Exchange with her partner Roy. Together they’ve provided a cozy and magical space for the people of Ashland to live out their wildest fantasies and dreams through the joy of affordable books.

Whether it’s been dressing up for the children on Harry Potter day or just being a familiar face for one to stop in a chat with, you could count on Lisa to be there with her vast spirit and passion for books. She even spread that spirit to the Ashland Peace Choir where she served as the bookkeeper and brought joy to the hearts of those who would come to hear her sing.

On December 1st, 2020 Lisa’s health took a turn. What began as what seemed to be kidney failure accompanied by heavy metal/ mold toxicity, and Lyme disease has now been clinically diagnosed as  Renal Cancer that has spread to Lisa’s bones. 


Lisa’s been fighting for months enduring this painful struggle with her family by her side. She’s also been navigating the stress and anxiety that comes with trying to find proper care in a confusing and challenging health care system. 

Lisa’s journey has just begun, and the road ahead will be filled with many treatments and Dr’s visits, most of which can not be covered by health insurance. 

Lisa is a person of heart. Every day of her life she lives in her integrity. She is dedicated to bettering herself, her family, and to her community. For years she has offered her light as a midwife, and abdominal massage therapist, guiding the women in her community through the trials of homebirth and giving the children of these women a healthy start in life. She has always been in service to the voice of her heart. All those who have been fortunate to be close to Lisa have benefited greatly from hearing the song of her spectacular soul. She is an incredible woman, with incredible gifts to offer.

There are many experiences her family has yet to share with Lisa, and they would do anything to provide that for her. Lisa has four powerful children, the youngest of which is 14. We want to see Lisa enjoy the years to come with her family, watching her youngest grow into a young woman, her oldest pursue his devotion to marine biology, her daughter graduate from veterinary school, and her oldest daughter become the designer she dreamed of. Lisa loves her children, and her children treasure her enormously. "She is the sun of our family constellation, and we would be lost without her" ~Manu (her son). We need your help to ensure that Lisa has access to the care she needs.


Her family has created this GoFundMe in hopes to receive support from the extended family that is the Ashland Community. We understand that with the economic impacts of the pandemic, money may be tight, and we deeply appreciate anything that you are able to share in support, even if that means simply sharing this fundraiser with your friends and family to expand its reach and potential. 

Your donations will go directly towards the numerous and expensive treatments needed to ensure that Lisa’s light burns bright for her community and her children for many more years to come.

With Love,

Lisa’s Light Keepers