By Hope Good
Life can change in an instant when cancer comes into your life. Cancer comes swiftly and quietly and forces you to make life altering decisions practically overnight. It seems like one of those things that happens to other people until it happens to you. How quickly I found out I was not alone as others reached out in friendship to share their stories and to welcome me as their “Breast Sister.” I am now in a sisterhood of survival where every day we are cancer free counts and we rejoice in being alive.
I came to realize how personal cancer is. No one can really understand this battle to the extent of those of us who live it. But for those who support us and help us recover, they become our guardian angels. Our survival could not be possible without them. We have seen real humanity in caregivers, doctors, health professionals, family, and friends as they altered their schedules on a moment’s notice to work us in, took the extra time to talk, to let us know they care, and who made simple gestures of kindness with encouraging words.
Simple thanks cannot alone express what an effect these kindnesses make to survivors. This journey makes us warriors, blazing ahead through difficulties to an unforeseen future, determined to win the battle and beat the enemy.
From this shared experience, we “Breast Sisters” saw a need for a booklet to help others navigate through cancer treatment. We wanted something that could simplify the overwhelming
amount of information and personalize it within our community. We began with a plan to raise money for our project under the name “Breast Cancer Awareness.” Within four short months we accomplished our mission and made this booklet a reality in 2015.
Ten Years later, “Breast Cancer Awareness” has become a non-profit 501(c) (3) with an active Facebook page, Website and annual fundraisers. We are currently publishing our fourth booklet (which is included in this issue of Treasure State Lifestyles magazine). Over the years we have distributed 18,000 booklets across Montana.
Our main fundraiser is an art gala we hold in the fall. Our most recent event was a roaring success, held on October 4 at the Great Falls Airport event center. Fun was had by all with live music, silent and live auctions as well as raffles, but more importantly, we raised the needed funds to cover the costs to print new magazines as well as moving forward with a PSA campaign to get our message out.
If you are interested in getting involved with “Breast Cancer Awareness” or in learning more about us, please contact our Chairman, Hope Good at 406-868-9649 or email at hihopes2u@hotmail.com. You can find us on facebook.com/montanabreastcancerawareness. Our website is MTBCA.org.